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LIFE    SKETCHES 


EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK 


FOR    1873. 


BY  WILLIAM  H.  McKLHOY  AND  ALEX.  McBRIDE. 


ALBANY : 

WEED,  PARSONS  AND  COMPANY,  PRINTERS. 
1873. 


Entered,  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and 
seventy-three, 

BY  WILLIAM  H.  McELROY  AND  ALEX.  McBRIDE, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


WEED,   PARSONS  AND  COMPANY", 

PRINTERS     AND     STEREOTYPERS, 

ALBANY,  N.    Y. 


M  i 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Introduction,          -----------5 

State  Officers,  with  steel  portrait  of  Governor  Dix,     -  7 

Senators.          ___-_-__-___      49 
Members  of  Assembly,      ---------        127 

Autobiography  of  "John  Smart,"      -------    344 

List  of  Senators,  with  their  Districts,    ------        349 

Alphabetical  list  of  Senators,  with  County,  Post-office  and  Politics,    351 
Alphabetical  list  of  Assemblymen,  with  District,  County,  Post- 
office  and  Politics,    -  -------352 

The  Old  Capitol  and  the  New,  with  steel  engraving,     -  35~ 


INTRODUCTION. 


A  CERTAIN  Englishman,  who  was  either  oversensitive,  or  over  surly, 
or  both,  once  expressed  himself  to  the  effect  that  when  he  pondered 
on  the  fact  that,  after  giving  up  the  ghost,  he  would  be  called  upon  to 
figure  in  certain  Life  Sketches  of  the  period  known  as  "The  Lives  of 
the  Chancellors,"  death  seemed  clothed  with  exceptional  terror.  The 
present  biographers  sincerely  hope  that  no  member  of  the  current 
State  Government  or  Legislature  of  New  York  will  find  the  burden 
of  public  life  heavier  than 

"It  might  have  been," 

but  for  his  allotment  in  the  pages  that  follow.  Let  us,  rather, 
fortified  by  a  modest  boldness,  be  confident  that  the  general  verdict 
shall  pronounce  our  little  work  as  valuable  for  reference,  and  a 
pleasant  remembrancer  of  those  who  figured  in  public  life  at  the 
Capital  of  the  Empire  State  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1873. 

The  publication  of  Life  Sketches  has  been  suspended  since  1870,  and 
the  present  resumption  is  owing  to  the  encouragement  the  editors 
have  received  from  those  whom  the  project  concerns.  The  sketches 
have  been  prepared  in  the  intervals  of  engrossing  reportorial  labors, 
and  have  all  been  written  since  the  commencement  of  the  present 
session  of  the  Legislature.  Great  care  has  been  taken,  however,  to 
avoid  errors  either  of  fact  or  date,  and  also  to  render  the  information 
given  as  complete  as  possible  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  taste, 
propriety  and  the  scope  of  the  work. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  sketches  of  the  Members  of  the  Legislature 
are  alphabetically  arranged,  thus  removing  the  necessity  for  an  index. 

The  editors,  as  a  last  word,  desire  to  express  their  thanks  to  all  those 
who  have  in  any  way  co-operated  for  the  success  of  their  venture. 


LIFE    SKETCHES. 


JOHN  A.  DIX, 

GOVERNOR. 

"Nothing,"  says  DE  QUIKCY,  "makes  such  dreary  and 
monotonous  reading  as  the  old  hackneyed  roll-call,  chronolo- 
gically arranged,  of  inevitable  facts  in  a  man's  life.  One  is 
so  certain  of  the  man's  having  been  born,  and,  also,  of  his 
having  died,  that  it  is  dismal  to  lie  under  the  necessity  of 
reading  it."  There  would  be  more  force  in  this  utterance  of 
the  great  opium-eater,  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  Nature 
never  repeats  herself.  No  two  of  her  children  exactly  cor- 
respond. Characters  are  not  duplicated  any  more  than  faces. 
In  an  hundred  biographies  we  are  sure  of  perfect  agreement 
in  but  two  particulars  —  all  the  hundred  were  born,  and  they 
all  died ;  but  what  a  wide  divergence  as  to  the  "  inevitable 
facts"  that  go  to  make  up  the  record  lying  between  the  sta- 
tions Life  and  Death ! 

In  the  present  biographical  sketch  and  those  which  succeed 
it,  the  editors  profess  to  have  given  such  and  such  only  of 
the  inevitable  facts  in  the  history  of  those  treated  of,  as  the 
public  have  a  right  to  know.  No  fitter  rule  can  be  laid  down 
for  the  guidance  of  the  biographer,  who  would  write  of  living 
subjects  without  offense  to  them  or  the  canons  of  taste,  than 
that  enunciated  by  Mrs.  STOAVE  in  her  volume  "  The  Men  of 
Our  Times."  "Every  public  man,"  she  says,  "has  two  lives, 
his  public  and  his  private.  The  one  becomes  fairly  the 
property  of  the  public  in  virtue  of  his  having  been  connected 
with  events  in  which  every  one  has  a  share  of  interest ;  but 
the  other  belongs  to  himself,  his  family  and  his  intimate 
friends,  and  the  public  have  no  more  right  to  discuss  or  pry 


8  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

into  its  details  than  they  have  into  those  of  any  other  private 
individual." 

In  considering  the  long  and  illustrious  career  of  JOHN  A. 
Dix,  we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  a  remark  that  IRVING  makes 
in  regard  to  the  first  President.  WASHINGTON,  he  tells  us, 
had  very  little  private  life.  The  words  can  be  most  appro- 
priately transferred  to  General  Dix,  for  probably  no  public 
man  living  has  occupied  so  many  important  positions  of  trust, 
has  had  so  long  an  experience  in  political  life  as  he.  The 
salient  facts  of  his  history  are  as  follows:  JOHN"  ADAMS 
Dix,  twenty-fourth  Governor  of  New  York,  was  born  at 
Boscawen,  New  Hampshire,  July  24,  1798,  and  was  the 
son  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  TIMOTHY  Dix  of  that  place. 
After  spending  some  time  in  a  French  college  at  Montreal, 
young  Dix  was  appointed  a  cadet  at  the  United  States  Mili- 
tary Academy  in  1812,  but  gave  up  the  appointment  to  bear 
his  part  in  the  war  of  1812-15,  having  in  1813  received  an 
appointment  as  ensign  in  the  fourteenth  United  States 
infantry.  A  year  subsequently  he  was  made  third  lieutenant 
in  the  twenty-first  regiment  of  infantry,  in  March,  1814, 
became  second  lieutenant,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  was 
transferred  to  the  artillery  arm.  1815  found  him  adjutant, 
and  1818  first  lieutenant.  In  1819  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  aide-de-camp  to  General  JACOB  BROWN,  a  dis- 
tinguished officer,  then  Commander-in-chief  of  the  army, 
and  spent  much  time  at  Washington,  where  he  enjoyed  the 
acquaintance  of  CALHOUN,  CLAY,  VAN  BUKEN  and  other 
prominent  party  leaders  of  the  time.  In  the  spring  of 
1821  he  was  transferred  to  the  third  artillery,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1825,  became  Captain  Dix.  Serving  as  cap- 
tain until  December  31,  1828,  he  then  resigned  his  com- 
mission, having  spent  sixteen  years  in  the  military  service. 
Going  abroad  not  long  after,  he  enjoyed  the  delights  and 
benefits  of  extensive  travel,  and  then  returned  to  this  coun- 
try and  entered  the  legal  profession  at  Cooperstown,  this 
State,  where  he  soon  became  prominent  in  political  circles 


JOHN  A.  Dix.  9 

as  a  zealous  partisan  of  ANDREW  JACKSON  and  democratic 
principles.  In  1831  he  was  appointed  adjutant-general  by 
Governor  THROOP,  and  two  years  later  was  elected  secretary 
of  state.  A  recent  writer  in  the  New  York  Commercial  calls 
attention  to  the  fact  that  with  General  Dix's  adjutant-gen- 
eralship began  one  of  the  most  memorable  chapters  of  his 
political  life.  We  quote  : 

"  Gen.  Dix's  connection  with  the  political 'ring,' known 
as  the  Albany  Regency,  dates  from  his  acceptance  of  the 
position  of  adjutant-general.  That  "'ring'  was  made  up  of 
such  material  as  VAN  BUREN,  MARCY,  BUTLER,  CROSWELL, 
WRIGHT,  BEN  KNOWER,  FLAGG,  JAMES  PORTER,  BEARDS- 
LEY,  BRONSON,  DICKINSON,  YOUNG  and  Dix  —  men  irre- 
proachable in  private  life  —  men  famous  for  their  upright- 
ness and  intellectual  political  vigor.  They  were  the  brains 
of  the  party,  and  when  the  places  that  knew  them  so  well 
knew  them  no  more,  the  old  democratic  party  went  out  with 
the  tide.  They  played  an  important  part  in  the  stirring 
events  that  make  history  from  1815  to  the  present  time,  A. 
C.  FLAGG  and  Gen.  Dix,  as  we  observed,  being  the  last  of 
the  race.  Mr.  WEED,  in  his  autobiography,  could  hardly 
be  expected  to  do  more  than  incidentally  refer  to  this 
political  galaxy  of  statesmen,  diplomats,  senators,  judges, 
financiers,  lawyers  and  controversialists,  who  •' went  to  the 
front'  and  participated  in  the  fierce  excitement  and  masterly 
exhibition  of  talent  at  a  time  in  the  history  of  our  State  and 
national  politics  most  intensely  interesting." 

While  General  Dix  was  secretary  of  state  —  and  by  virtue 
of  his  office  he  was  also  superintendent  of  common  schools, 
a  member  of  the  canal  board  and  one  of  the  commissioners 
of  the  canal  fund  —  new  canals  were  being  constructed,  the 
enlargement  of  the  Erie  canal  was  commenced,  and  the  net- 

a 

Avork  of  railways  that  now  covers  the  State  was  just  begin- 
ning to  be  spread.  The  secretary's  position,  it  will  thus  be 
seen,  was  one  of  unusual  responsibility,  and  that  he  filled  it 
with  creat  honor  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 


10  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

the  people  there  is  abundant  evidence.  His  administration 
was  especially  distinguished  for  what  it  accomplished  in 
behalf  of  the  schools  of  the  State.  Hon.  SAMUEL  S.  KAN- 
DALL,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Common  School  System  of 
the  State  of  Kew  York,"  reviews  General  Dix's  career  as 
superintendent,  and  thus  concludes : 

"  In  passing  from  the  administration  of  General  Dix  to 
that  of  his  successor,  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  observe  that 
the  exertions  of  the  former,  during  the  six  years  in  which  the 
interests  of  the  common  schools  were  committed  to  his 
charge,  in  the  eleration  and  expansion  of  the  system  of 
popular  education,  were  unsurpassed  by  any  of  Ms  predeces- 
sors. The  impress  of  his  clear,  discriminating  and  cultivated 
mind  was  stamped  upon  every  feature  of  that  system  ;  and 
the  order,  arrangement  and  harmony  which  prevailed  in  all 
its  parts,  were  due  not  less  to  the  ceaseless  vigilance  of  his 
supervision  than  to  the  symmetry  and  beauty  of  the  system 
itself,  in  1837,  under  the  authority  of  the  Legislature,  he 
collected  together  and  published  a  volume  of  the  decisions  of 
his  predecessor  and  himself,  embracing  a  full  exposition  of 
nearly  every  provision  of  the  school  act  —  establishing  upon 
f i  permanent  basis  f  he  principle  of  future  interpretation,  and 
exerting  a  highly  beneficial  influence  upon  the  councils  and 
proceedings  of  the  officers  and  inhabitants  of  the  several  dis- 
tricts, in  repressing  litigation,  and  in  defining  the  powers, 
privileges  and  responsibilities  of  those  called  to  the  perform- 
ance of  any  duty  in  relation  to  the  common  schools.  The 
system  of  district  school  libraries  was  also  organized  and  put 
into  successful  operation  under  his  immediate  supervision; 
and  to  his  clear  ajid  convincing  exposition  of  the  principles 
upon  which  that  useful  and  beneficent  institution  was  based, 
the  ends  it  was  designed  to  subserve,  and  the  objects  it  was 
capable  of  accomplishing,  a  large  share  of  the  success  which 
has  attended  tlie  establishment  is  unquestionably  due.'' 

At  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  a  State  officer,  General  Dix 


JOHN  A.  Dix.  11 

resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  duties 
of  his  profession  until  1842,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  Assembly 
from  Albany  county.  In  18-45,  SILAS  WRIGHT  was  called 
from  the  United  States  Senate  to  be  Governor  of  New  York, 
and  JOHN  A.  Dix  was  elected  to  fill  the  place  which  he 
left.  He  appeared  in  the  Senate  at  a  time  when  questions 
of  vast  moment  were  agitating  the  country  —  the  annexation 
of  Texas,  the  war  with  Mexico,  the  joint  occupation  and 
disputed  boundary  of  Oregon,  the  power  of  Congress  over 
slaves  in  the  territories,  and  others  that  will  readily  occur  to 
the  reader.  He  took  an  active  and  distinguished  part  in  the 
discussions,  and  showed  a  broad  and  statesmanlike  compre- 
hension of,  and  thorough  aptitude  for  affairs.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  commerce,  and  was  an  efficient 
member  of  the  committee  on  military  affairs.  He  fathered 
a  bill  for  reciprocal  freedom  of  trade  with  the  British  prov- 
inces, and  one  fur  defining  the  duties  and  reducing  the 
salaries  of  officers  of  the  customs  in  the  large  ports. 

WILLIAM  II.  SEWARD  succeeded  him  in  the  Senate.  In 
1848  he  ran  on  the  "free-soil"  ticket  for  Governor,  but  was 
defeated  by  HAMILTON  FISH.  He  took  an  active  part  in 
1852  in  the  presidential  campaign,  doing  much  effective  work 
in  FRANK  PIEKCE'S  canvass;  but,  after  his  candidate  was 
elected,  declined  the  portfolio  of  State,  offered  him  by  PIERCE, 
in  favor  of  Governor  MARCY.  In  1853  he  was  appointed 
assistant  treasurer  in  Xew  York  city,  a  position  which  he 
filled  only  for  a  short  time,  resigning,  and  devoting  himself 
exclusively  to  his  profession  until  I860,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  of  New  York  citv.  And  so  \ve  come  to  the 
grey  dawn  of  the  great  rebellion — a  rebellion  on  whose  world- 
regarded  stage  General  Dix  played  a  prominent  part,  adding 
new  lustre  to  an  already  famous  name,  and  rendering  ines- 
timable services  to  his  country.  Near  t he  end  of  BUCHANAN'S 
term,  the  secessionists,  taking  advantage  of  the  approaching 
interregnum,  had  appointed  a  convention  to  meet  at  .Mont- 


12  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

gomery,  Alabama,  and  take  measures  for  raising  an  army. 
They  proposed,  as  part  of  their  treasonable  programme,  to 
seize  Washington,  and  prevent  the  inauguration  of  LINCOLN. 
Early  in  December,  1860,  HOWELL  COBB  resigned  the  con- 
trol of  the  treasury,  giving  as  a  reason  its  bankrupt  and 
hopeless  condition,  and  was  succeeded  by  PHILIP  F. 
THOMAS,  who  had  been  commissioner  of  patents.  THOMAS 
resigned  after  a  few  weeks,  being  displeased  with  the  attempt 
to  reinforce  Sumter.  It  was  at  this  serious  juncture  that 
Attorney-General  STANTON  induced  a  number  of  leading 
capitalists  of  Xew  York  to  demand  from  BUCHANAN  the 
appointment  of  JOHN  A.  Dix  as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  — 
a  demand  that  was  complied  with.  "  For  once,"  says  Dr. 
DRAPER,  speaking  of  the  incalculable  benefit  that  resulted 
to  the  cause  of  the  Union  from  the  presence  of  Dix  in 
BUCHANAN'S  cabinet,  "  for  once  the  financial  embarrassment 
of  the  nation  proved  its  salvation.  The  condition  of  the 
treasury  was  deplorable.  The  government  could  do  nothing 
without  the  aid  of  capitalists  of  !N"ew  York.  Through 
the  influence  of  the  Attorney-General,  who  was  instructed  by 
his  own  patriotism,  and  by  the  clear  information  of  the 
existing  imminent  danger,  a  deputation  of  capitalists  hast- 
ened to  Washington  and  gave  the  President  distinctly  to 
understand  that  the  treasury  department  must  be  placed  ii 
charge  of  one  in  whom  they  had  confidence,  and  that  th: 
should  not  be  satisfied  unless  JOHN  A.  Dix,  of  their  State, 
was  selected."  A  French  writer,  LAUGEL,  says  that  STAN- 
TON,  HOLT  and  Dix  saved  Washington  to  the  Union;  and, 
in  the  opinion  of  Dr.  DRAPER,  •'•'  the  obligations  of  the 
republic  to  those  three  ministers  can  never  be  repaid."' 

General  Dix  was  called  to  the  cabinet  on  the  llth  of 
January,  1861,  and  remained  in  it  but  little  over  a  month, 
resigning  at  the  close  of  BUCHANAN'S  term.  And.  al- 
though his  tenure  of  the  treasury  was  so  short,  yet.  within 
the  limits  of  the  narrow  span  of  his  life  as  a  cabinet  officer, 


JOHN  A.  Dix.  13 

General  Dix  furnished  a  most  striking  exemplification  of  the 
poet's  lines  — 

We  live  in  deeds,  not  years. 

He  most  lives 

Who  thinks  most,  feels  the  noblest,  acts  the  'best. 

It  was  while  he  held  this  office,  that  he  wrote  his  famous 
dispatch,  whose  fac  simile  we  present  on  another  page, 
which  has  well  been  characterized  as  "  the  most  concentrated 
und  burning  war-cry  of  the  Union."  The  circumstances 
under  which  it  was  written  were  these.  General  Dix  had 
sent  W.  H.  JONES  as  special  agent  of  the  treasury  depart- 
ment, to  secure  three  revenue  cutters.  JONES  found  one  of 
them,  the  "  McClelland,"  in  the  possession  of  the  authorities 
of  Alabama,  and  hastening  to  New  Orleans,  addressed  a  note 
to  Captain  BEESHWOOD,  of  that  cutter,  inclosing  one  from 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  directing  him  to  proceed 
immediately  with  his  vessel  to  New  York.  BRESHWOOD  at 
once  replied,  "Your  letter,  with  one  of  the  19th  of  Janu- 
ary, (1861)  from  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
I  have  duly  received,  and  in  reply,  refuse  to  obey  the  order." 
JONES  immediately  communicated  the  fact  of  this  refusal  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  by  telegraph,  and  further 
informed  him  that  Collector  HATCH  of  New  Orleans,  sus- 
tained the  action  of  the  rebel  captain.  It  was  under  these 
circumstances,  that  General  Dix  promptly  replied  to  JONES 
with  a  telegram,  ending  with  that  sentence  touched  with  a 
live  coal  from  the  altar  of  patriotism,  "!F  ANY  ONE 

ATTEMPTS     TO    HAUL    DOWN    THE    AMERICAN    FLAG,    SHOOT 

HIM  ON  THE  SPOT!"  This  order  speedily  became  a  proverb 
on  every  true  American's  lips,  and  GREELEY,  in  his  American 
Conflict,  most  justly  records  that  it  "  sent  an  electric  thrill 
through  the  loyal  heart  of  the  country."  Probably  one  of 

•/  J  J 

the  highest,  and  certainly  the  most  unique  of  the  many 
compliments  paid  to  Dix's  battle-cry,  emanated  from  a  Sun- 
dav  school  scholar,  at  Akron,  Ohio.  MOORE,  in  his  Rebellion 


14  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Record,  tells  of  him.  He  was  a  lad  of  eleven,  and  on  being 
requested  with  other  members  of  his  class,  to  repeat  from 
the  Bible  a  verse  of  his  own  selection,  promptly  gave  the  fol- 
lowing :  "  If  any  one  attempts  to  haul  down  the  American 
flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot ! " 

In  1861  General  Dix  presided  at  the  great  meeting  held  in 
Union  Square,  New  York,  and  made  a  groat  and  effective 
speech,  in  the  course  of  which  he  said :  "  I  regard  the  pend- 
ing contest  with  the  secessionists  as  a  death-struggle  for 
constitutional  liberty  and  law  —  a  contest  which,  if  successful 
on  their  part,  could  only  end  in  the  establishment  of  a 
despotic  government,  and  blot  out,  wherever  they  were 
ascendant,  every  vestige  of  national  freedom.  We  stand  before 
the  statue  of  the  Father  of  his  country ;  [the  stand  from 
which  the  General  spoke  Avas  near  the  equestrian  statue  of 
Washington]  ;  the  flag  of  the  Union  which  floats  over  it  hung 
above  him  when  he  presided  over  the  convention  by  which 
the  constitution  was  framed.  The  great  work  of  his  life  has 
been  rejected,  and  the  banner  by  which  his  labors  were  con- 
secrated has  been  trampled  in  the  dust.  If  the  inanimate 
bronze,  in  which  the  sculptor  has  shaped  his  image,  could  be 
changed  for  the  living  form  which  led  the  armies  of  the 
Revolution  to  victory,  lie  would  command  us,  in  the  name 
of  the  hosts  of  patriots  and  political  martyrs  who  have  gone 
before,  to  strike  for  the  defense  of  the  Union  and  the  Con- 
stitution.'' A  fe\v  weeks  after  making  this  speech,  General 
Dix  was  appointed  Major-General  in  the  army  of  the  United 
States,  and  in  August  of  the  .same  year.  1801,  he  relieved 
General  BAXKS  of  the  command  of  the  department  of  Mary- 
land, \vitli  his  head-quarters  at  Baltimore.  It  was  while  he 
Avas  in  command  at  Baltimore  that  he  manifested  his  military 
genius  by  a  strategic  movement  which  relieved  the  eastern 
shore  of  Maryland  and  Virginia  from  the  rebel  grasp. 

General  Dix  Avas  subsequently  placed  in  command  of 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  1863  performed  one  of  the  best 
manoeuvres  of  the  campaign.  In  June  he  sent  a  portion  of 


JOHN  A.  Dix.  15 

his  command  to  the  White  House,  at  the  junction  of  the 
Pain un key  with  the  York  river.  In  this  position  he  threat- 
ened both  Richmond  and  the  communications  of  General 
LEE,  who  was  advancing  along  the  peninsula.  This  move- 
ment defeated  all  General  LEE'S  plans,  and  so  frightened 
JEFF.  DAVIS  that  he  wrote  an  appealing  letter  to  General  LEE, 
saying  that  it  had  "  rendered  him  more  anxious  for  the  city 
than  at  any  former  time."  In  July  the  department  o'f  North 
Carolina  was  added  to  that  of  Virginia,  and  both  placed 
under  command  of  General  Dix,  until  he  was  transferred  to 
the  command  of  the  department  of  the  east. 

General  Dix's  general  order  to  all  provost  marshals,  with 
regard  to  rebel  and  other  refugees  in  Canada,  crossing  the 
lines  to  vote  at  the  presidential  election  in  186-1,  ordering 
their  arrest,  excited  a  great  amount  of  attention  at  the  time, 
and  had  the  effect  of  checking  such  fraudulent  voting,  the 
election  being  one  of  the  most  peaceable  ever  witnessed.  He 
also  ordered  that  after  the  election,  should  any  suspicious 
persons  cross  into  Canada,  they  were  to  be  detained  until 
proper  investigations  could  be  made.  He  also  organized  the 
courts  for  the  trial  of  JOHN  Y.  BE  ALL  and  11.  C.  KENNEDY, 
as  spies,  conspirators  and  incendiaries,  during  February  and 
March,  which  resulted  in  their  execution. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  General  Dix  resigned  his  position 
in  the  army,  and,  renewing  his  interest  in  politics,  joined  his 
fortunes  with  the  National  Union  party,  of  whose  conven- 
tion, at  Philadelphia  in  the  summer  of  18G6,  he  was  chair- 
man. In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed  minister  to 
France,  after  having  declined  the  mission  to  the  Hague,  and 
was  presented  to  the  Emperor  in  January,  1867.  As  our 
national  representative,  he  added  to  his  own  and  his 
country's  honor  by  discharging  all  his  duties  with  the  same 
distinguished  ability  that  had  marked  his  previous  career  of 
soldier  and  statesman.  The  prominent  part  he  played  in 
the  famous  coup  d'etat  of  lust  winter,  by  which  the  Erie 
railroad  was  rescued  from  the  ring  who  were  running  it  for 


16  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

their  own  aggrandizement,  is  too  recent  to  need  more  than 
a  passing  mention  here. 

General  Dix  received  his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
Brown  University  in  1820,  and  that  of  Doctor  of  Laws  from 
Geneva  College  in  1845.  He  has  found  time  in  the  pauses 
of  his  busy  life  to  turn  aside  into  his  library  long  enough  to 
turn  out  some  literary  work  of  a  high  order  of  merit,  notably 
a  book  of  travel,  '•'  A  Winter  in  Madeira  and  A  Summer  in 
Spain  and  Florence.''  His  speeches  and  occasional  addresses 
and  lectures  have  been  compiled  in  two  handsome  volumes. 
The  late  General  HALPIXE,  better  known  by  his  nom  de 
plume  of  "  Miles  O'Reilly,"  the  brilliant  young  Irishman  who 
was  for  some  time  on  General  Dix's  staff,  in  his  racy  remin- 
iscences of  the  war,  to  which  he  gave  the  title  of  "  Baked 
Meats,"  bears  witness  to  the  fine  attainments  of  the  General 
in  classics  and  belle-lettres.  He  writes  : 

"General  Dix,  as  should  be  known  to  every  one,  is  an 
extremely  elegant  classical  scholar,  who  has  carried  forward 
with  him,  through  all  the  varied  and  valuable  labors  of  his 
public  life,  an  unfading  love  and  continual  study  of  those 
great  masters  of  antiquity  by  whose  precepts,  and  upon  whose 
model,  his  own  pure  and  noble  mind  was  originally  formed. 
Let  any  one  who  seeks  to  know  the  value  of  such  an  educa- 
tion contrast  the  dignity,  urbanity  and  stainless  integrity 
which  have  marked  the  life  of  this  gentleman  with  the  far 
different  qualities  for  which  many  of  our  public  men  are 
alone  to  be  distinguished,  and  we  think  a  full  answer  will  be 
given  to  the  too  common,  though  vulgar  and  senseless 
inquiry:  '  Of  what  practical  use  are  classical  attainments  ?'  " 

After  these  prefatory  words,  MILES  submits  to  his  readers 
the  following  extremely  literal  and  yet  extremely  elegant 
translation,  by  General  Dix,  of  HORACE'S  famous  ode  (Liber 
in,  Carmen  xxx) : 


JOHN  A.  Dix.  17 

EXEGI  MONUMENTUM  -&1RE  PERENNIUS. 
I've  reared  a  monument  to  fame 
More  durable  than  solid  brass, 
Which  will,  in  loftiness  of  aim, 
The  regal  pyramids  surpass. 

No  wasting  shower,  no  rending  storm 
Shall  mar  the  work  my  genius  rears ; 

No  lapse  of  time  shall  change  its  form, 
No  countless  series  of  years. 

I  shall  not  wholly  die  :  my  name 
Shall  triumph  o'er  oblivion's  power, 

And  fresh,  with  still  increasing  fame, 
In  glory  posthumous  shall  tower, 

While  to  the  Capitolium 

The  Priest  and  Silent  Virgin  come. 

Where  Aufidus  impetuous  roars, 
And  Daunus,  over  arid  shores 

And  rural  population  reigns  — 
Shall  I,  once  weak  —  now  potent  —  live 
As  first  of  all  the  bards  to  give 

JSolian  verse  to  Latin  strains. 

Give  me,  Melpomene  divine ! 

The  glory  due  to  deathless  lays ; 
Propitious  to  my  vows  incline 

And  crown  me  with  Apollo's  bays  I 

His  translations  of  Dies  I  roe  and  Stabat  Mater  rank  with 
the  most  successful  renderings  of  those  two  great  mediaeval 
hymns  into  English. 

The  nomination  which  resulted  in  calling  General  Dix  to 
the  gubernatorial  chair  was  not  only  unsought  by  him,  but 
distinctly  declined.  But  finding  that  the  Republican  con- 
vention at  Utica  deemed  it  of  so  much  importance  that  his 
name  should  head  the  ticket  as  to  place  it  there  in  opposition 
to  his  wishes,  he  waived  his  personal  preferences  and  con- 
sented to  become  the  standard-bearer.  His  triumph  was 
such  as  any  man  might  justly  be  proud  of.  In  the  entire 
State  his  vote  led  that  of  General  GRANT,  and  in  those  local- 


18  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

ities  in  which  he  was  best  known  he  proved  strongest,  us  in 
Kings  county,  where  he  led  the  ticket  by  5,000. 

General  Dix  has  already  passed  the  allotted  term  of  human 
life  as  laid  down  by  the  psalmist,  and  yet  so  erect,  alert  and 
vigorous  is  he,  despite  his  three  score  and  ten  years,  his  eye 
not  dim  nor  his  natural  force  abated,  that  he  stands  to-day 
"  the  un wasted  contemporary  of  his  own  prime." 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  STAFF. 

Governor  Dix's  military  family  is  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing members : 

Maj.-Gen.  JOHN  F.  RATHBONE,  of  Albany,  A djui 'ant- Gene- 
ral. 

Brevet  Maj.-Gen.  WILLIAM  H.  MOKRIS,  of  Cold  Spring, 
Inspector-  General. 

Brig-Gen.  KILBURN  KNOX,  of  New  York,  Chief  of  Ord- 
nance. 

Brig.-Gen.  N.  GANG  DUNN,  of  New  York,  Engineer-in- 
Cldef. 

Brig.-Gen.  J.HAMPDEN  WOOD,  of  Albany,  Judge- Advocate- 
General. 

Brig.-Gen.  WILLIAM  M.  SMITH,  of  Angelica,  Allegany 
cou nty,  Su rgeon-  General. 

Brig.-Gen.  JOHN  N.  KNAPP,  of  Auburn,  Quartermaster- 
General. 

Brig.-Gen.  EUFUS  H.  KING,  of  Albany,  Paymaster- 
General. 

Brig.-Gen.  THEODORE  E.  SMITH,  of  Rochester,  Commis- 
sary-General of  Subsistence. 

Col.  GEORGE  G.  HAVEN,  of  New  York;  Col.  CHESTER 
GRISWOLD,  of  Troy ;  Col.  ROBERT  C.  PRUYN,  of  Albany ; 
Col.  HAMILTON  FISH,  Jr.,  of  New  York ;  Col.  WM.  A.  W. 
STEWART,  of  New  York;  Col.  HIRAM  P.  HOPKINS,  of  Buf- 
falo, Aides-de-C'amp.  Military  Secretary,  Col.  SIDNEY 
DE  KAY. 


JOHN  A.  Dix.  19 

General  RATHBONE  has  long  shown  a  deep  interest  in 
the  National  Guard,  and  his  distinction  as  the  commanding 
officer  for  years  of  the  Ninth  Brigade,  his  high  executive  and 
organizing  ability,  combined  to  eminently  fit  him  for  the  im- 
portant position  of  Adjutant-General.  He  has  long  been  the 
ardent  friend  of  our  State  military  organization.  During  the 
war,  as  the  commandant  of  the  Albany  Depot  of  Volunteers 
and  all  the  branch  depots  subsidiary  to  it,  and  having  some- 
times from  twenty  to  forty  thousand  men  under  his  imme- 
diate charge,  he  evinced  great  capacity  for  organization,  and 
few  men  rendered  such  signal  service  in  the  preparation  of 
New  York's  quota  for  the  war  of  the  Union. 

General  WILLIAM  H.  MOREIS,  the  Inspector-General,  has 
served  upon  the  staif  as  Commissary-General  of  Ordnance, 
and  also  in  the  army  of  the  Union.  He  is  a  good  soldier 
and  a  cultured  gentleman.  Gen.  KNOX  Avas  for  some  time 
Captain  of  the  13th  Regular  Infantry,  and  subsequently  served 
on  the  staif  of  General  McPtiERSOX.  He  is  every  way  qualified 
for  the  honorable  place  assigned  him.  Gen.  N.  GAXO  Duxx, 
the  Engineer-in-Chief,  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
the  military  in  New  York,  where  he  has  acquired  the  reputa- 
tion of  a  thorough  and  accomplished  officer.  General  WOOD, 
the  Judge-Advocate-General,  is  a  young  lawyer  of  honorable 
standing  in  his  profession,  and  the  highest  personal  worth. 
He  is  a  son  of  Hon.  BRADFORD  R.  WOOD,  late  American 
Minister  to  Denmark. 

Gen.  JOHX  N.  KKA.PP,  Quartermaster-General,  is  the  able 
and  efficient  secretary  of  the  Republican  State  Committee, 
and  a  gentleman  of  high  business  and  social  position.  The 
Paymaster-General,  Gen.  RUFUS  H.  KIXG,  bears  a  name  and 
is  identified  with  a  family  honorably  associated  with  the  staff 
in  the  past,  and  is  himself  a  genial,  cultivated  gentleman. 

A  word  or  two  about  the  aides.  Col.  GEORGE  G.  HAVEX  is 
a  gentleman  of  high  standing  in  the  financial  and  social  cir- 


20  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

cles  of  the  metropolis.  Col.  CHESTER  GRISWOLD  is  the 
eldest  son  of  the  late  Hon.  JOHN  A.  GRISWOLD,  and  his 
appointment  is  a  graceful  testimony,  both  of  the  regard  of 
Gov.  Dix  for  the  memory  of  his  lamented  father,  and  of  his 
appreciation  of  the  worth  of  the  accomplished  son.  Col. 
EGBERT  C.  PRUYN  is  the  son  of  Hon.  ROBERT  H.  PRUYN, 
and  is  equally  fitted  for  the  position  of  Aide,  by  his  military 
tastes  and  his  gentlemanly  bearing.  Col.  HAMILTON  FISH, 
Jr.,  inherits  not  only  the  name  but  the  culture  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Secretary  of  State.  Col.  WILLIAM  A.  W.  STEW 
ART  is  the  son  of  JOHN  A.  STEWART,  the  well-known 
President  of  the  Trust  Company.  Col.  HIRAM  P.  HOPKINS 
js  the  son  of  Comptroller  HOPKINS,  and  worthily  represents 
the  city  which  is  honored  in  his  selection. 

Col.  DE  KAY  got  his  practical  military  education  by  long 
and  arduous  service  in  our  own  war,  and  afterward  in  Greece, 
whither  he  went  as  a  volunteer  and  nearly  lost  his  life  through 
a  severe  wound.  Both  from  his  legal  and  military  acquire- 
ments he  is  peculiarly  fitted  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the 
place  to  which  the  Governor  has  called  him. 


JOHN  C.  ROBINSON.  21 

JOHN  C.   KOBINSON, 

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. 

Men  often  in  a  single  sentence  as  perfectly  reveal  their 
ruling  passion  and  peculiar  traits  of  character,  as  in  long 
years  of  public  service.  GRANT'S  saying, "  We  will  fight  it  out 
on  this  line  if  it  takes  all  summer,"  affords  as  clear  an  illus- 
tration of  his  sturdy  persistency,  as  if  he  had  written  a  score 
of  volumes  to  prove  that  perseverance  is  the  cardinal  virtue. 

General  Dix's  mental  activity  and  proverbial  promptitude 
found  expression  in  his  famous  saying,  "If  any  one  hauls 
down  the  American  flag,  shoot  him  on  the  spot ! "  The  sen- 
tence is  an  embodiment  of  uncompromising  patriotism,  and  it 
affords  a  perfect  illustration  of  the  energetic  character  of  the 
man.  Scarcely  less  striking,  and  more  epigramatic  was  the 
expression  made  use  of  by  the  distinguished  soldier,  the  pres- 
ent Lieutenant-Governor  of  New  York,  whose  name  stands  at 
the  head  of  this  sketch.  When  General  KOBINSON  was  lead- 
ing his  division,  amid  a  shower  of  bullets,  against  Spottsyl- 
vania,  he  encouraged  his  followers  with  the  battle-cry,  "Tins 
PLACE  MUST  BE  OURS."  The  words  indicate  that  peculiar  deter- 
mination and  courage  which  constitute  the  leading  features 
in  the  General's  character  —  features  that  are  prominently 
brought  out  in  a  survey  of  his  life. 

JOHN  CLEVELAND  KOBINSON  was  born  in  Binghamton, 
Broome  county,  April  10,  1817.  He  entered  the  Military 
Academy  in  1835,  and  remained  there  until  1838,  when  he 
began  the  study  of  law,  but  received  in  1839  a  commission  as 
second  lieutenant  in  the  Fifth  infantry.  He  was  ordered  to 
the  Rio  Grande  in  1845,  and  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieu- 
tenant during  the  Mexican  war,  in  which  he  was  distin- 
guished at  the  battle  of  Monterey.  At  the  close  of  that  war 
he  served  with  his  regiment  in  Arkansas,  in  the  Cherokee 
nation,  and  Texas  ;  was  made  captain  in  1850,  and  was  after- 


22  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

ward  sent  against  the  Indians  in  Florida.  In  1857  he  accom- 
panied the  army  in  Utah,  and  was  placed  in  command  of 
Fort  Bridger.  At  the  beginning  of  the  civil  war  he  com- 
manded at  Fort  McHenry,  Baltimore.  When  relieved  from 
this  duty  he  was  sent  to  the  West,  as  mustering  officer,  and 
remained  as  such  until  appointed  colonel  of  the  First  Regiment 
of  Michigan  volunteers.  He  was  promoted  to  be  major  of 
the  Second  infantry  in  February,  1862 ;  was  made  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers  in  the  following  April,  and  took  com- 
mand of  a  brigade  at  Newport  News  in  May,  but  was  soon 
ordered  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  placed  in  command 
of  the  First  Brigade  of  KEARNEY'S  division,  the  corps  of 
General  HEINTZELMAN.  He  was  distinguished  during  the 
seven  days  battles  before  Richmond,  particularly  those  fought 
on  June  30  and  Julv  1.  1862,  when  he  was  sliarhtlv  wounded. 

•.  '  *  O  »/ 

He  participated  in  the  Fredericksburg,  Gettysburg,  Center- 
ville,  Culpepper,  Mine  Run  and  Rapidan  campaigns.  When 
the  army  of  the  Potomac  started  on  the  overland  campaign  of 
1864,  General  ROBINSON  was  in  command  of  a  division  in  the 
Fifth  corps,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania 
he  was  ordered  to  the  advance  on  Todd's  Tavern,  with  Gen- 
eral SHERIDAN'S  cavalry.  On  reaching  the  Cross  Roads,  the 
enemy  made  a  determined  stand  behind  breastworks.  An 
attempt  was  made  to  carry  this  position,  which  failed,  when 
General  ROBINSON,  riding  coolly  up  to  the  head  of  his  men, 
said,  '•'  This  place  must  be  ours ! "  and  asked  his  command  to 
follow  him. 

The  call  was  responded  to  with  enthusiasm,  and  a  charge 
was  made.  A  terrible  fire  of  musketry  was  encountered,  and 
General  ROBINSON  received  a  bullet  in  his  left  knee,  the 
wound  rendering  amputation  of  the  thigh  necessary.  After 
his  convalescence,  General  ROBINSON  was  unable  to  endure 
the  fatigues  of  active  duty,  and  was  employed  in  various 
capacities  until  1869,  when  he  retired  from  active  service  with 
the  full  rank  of  Major-General.  Since  that  date  he  has  been 


JOHN  C.  ROBINSON.  23 

an  active  and  efficient  member  of  the  Kepublican  party,  but 
has  taken  no  very  prominent  part  in  public  affairs. 

During  the  extended  military  service  of  General  ROBINSON, 
he  passed  through  many  thrilling  incidents  and  perils. 
How  he  saved  Fort  McHenry  at  Baltimore  from  capture  is 
well  worth  relating  here.  It  was  the  first  of  the  series  of 
strategy  which  our  government  and  our  military  command- 
ers were  so  often  obliged  to  resort  to.  He  had  with  him 
only  one  hundred  men ;  arid,  after  the  attack  on  the  sixth 
Massachusetts  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  the  rebels  contem- 
plated seizing  on  the  fort,  succeeding  in  which,  they  would 
have  gained  an  advantage  of  the  greatest  importance.  A 
steamer  opportunely  came  in  to  coal,  and  General  ROBINSON 
seized  upon  the  event  to  create  the  impression  that  she  had 
brought  in  reinforcements.  He  put  up  tents  and  made  a 
display,  seemingly  of  a  large  force  of  troops  newly  arrived 
and  hastily  accommodated.  The  ruse  succeeded.  The 
rebels  thought  their  attack  had  been  anticipated  and  pre- 
pared for ;  so  Fort  McHenry  remained  in  our  possession  ever 
after,  to  declare  to  the  rebels  that,  even  though  they  cap- 
tured Washington,  it  would  be  of  no  permanent  advantage 
to  them. 

General  ROBINSON,  with  all  the  austerity  of  a  military 
nature,  yet  has  a  very  kindly  heart.  He  is  a  thorough 
republican;  loves  the  people,  and  has  an  abiding  faith  in 
their  capacity  to  govern  themselves.  He  is  inclined  to  socia- 
bility, when  once  his  '"'outworks  of  reserve"  are  penetrated, 
and  he  then  becomes  as  communicative  as  any  one  could 
wish. 

In  the  convention  which  nominated  General  ROBINSON 
for  Lieutenant-Governor,  several  admirable  names  were  sug- 
gested. Senator  THAYER,  of  Troy,  the  chief  competitor, 
had  hosts  of  warm  friends,  and  would  have  peculiarly  graced 
the  position.  But  the  soldierly  qualities  of  General  ROBIN- 
SOX  gained  him  the  day.  His  supporters  adopted  his  motto, 
and  gained  success  to  the  cry  "  this  place  (on  the  ticket)  shall 


24  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

be  ours."  The  career  of  General  ROBIXSOX  is  well  known 
to  the  people.  One  of  the  most  gallant  and  distinguished 
soldiers  of 'the  Empire  State,  his  record  in  the  war  is  of  the 
brightest  lustre.  His  comrades  in  arms  presented  him  with 
a  unanimity  and  a  zeal  which  showed  their  high  apprecia- 
tion of  his  great  soldierly  worth  ;  and  the  people  of  the 
State  elected  him  by  a  most  flattering  vote. 

We  close  our  sketch  by  appending  the  terse  and  appropriate 
remarks  made  by  the  General  on  the  day  when  he  entered 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  President  of  the  Senate. 
He  addressed  the  Senate,  as  follows : 

"  SEXATOKS  :  In  taking  this  chair,  and  entering  upon  the 
duties  of  the  office  with  which  I  have  been  honored  by  the 
people  of  this  State,  I  have  an  adequate  sense  of  the  respon- 
sibilities of  the  position. 

"  Without  any  of  the  experience  in  legislative  proceedings, 
possessed  by  most  of  my  predecessors,  and  which  I  believe 
to  be  requisite  to  a  prompt  and  correct  decision  of  perplex- 
ing cpnestions,  I  may  not  at  all  times  meet  your  expectations. 
But,  with  a  firm  determination  to  discharge  the  duties  of  my 
office  honestly,  faithfully  and  impartially,  I  shall  expect  and 
hope  to  receive  your  indulgence,  until  experience  shall  make 
me  familiar  with  the  proceedings  of  a  body  which  has  been 
distinguished  for  its  order,  dignity  and  learning. 

'•'  I  congratulate  you  on  the  favorable  circumstances  under 
which  we  meet.  The  State  and  National  Administrations 
are  once  more  in  full  accord.  The  country  is  in  the  enjov- 
ment  of  peace  at  home  and  abroad.  The  people  of  the  State 
are  prosperous  and  contented,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 
the  rights  and  privileges  guaranteed  to  them  by  the  Consti- 
tution and  laws  of  the  land. 

'•  During  this  session,  important  measures  will  be  brought 
before  you  for  your  consideration,  and  much  good  is  expected 
from  your  deliberations,  in  the  enactment  of  good  and 
wholesome  laws. 

••  I  am  sure  you  will  unite  with  me  in  wishing  that  the 
action  of  the  Senate  may  be  such  as  to  meet  the  just  expecta- 
tions of  the  public,  and  conduce  to  the  welfare,  prosperity 
and  happiness  of  the  people  of  the  State." 


G.  HILTON  SCRIBXER.  25 


G.  HILTON  SCRIBNER, 

SECRETARY    OF   STATE. 

G.  HILTON  SCRIBNER,  Secretary  of  State,  was  born  at 
Ogden,  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the  23d  of  June,  1831. 
His  ancestors,  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  side,  were 
English,  and  both  came  to  Massachusetts  in  the  first  half  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  His  father,  SEWELL  B.  SCRIBNER, 
who  is  still  living,  with  unimpaired  faculties,  at  the  age  of 
eighty,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  western  New  York,  hav- 
ing removed  from  his  native  place.  Andover,  Xew  Hamp- 
shire, and  settled  in  Monroe  county  in  1816  —  Rochester 
being  at  that  time  but  a  mere  hamlet.  His  mother,  CLAR- 
ISSA HILTOX,  a  woman  of  great  intellectual  power,  rare  cul- 
tivation and  refined  tastes,  was  born  in  Allegany  county,  her 
family  coming  hither  at  an  early  day  from  Newburyport, 
Mass. 

Young  SCRIBXER  received  good  common  school  instruc- 
tion at  liis  native  place,  which  at  that  time  possessed  excellent 
educational  advantages.  Leaving  home,  he  became  a  student 
at  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Lima.  N.  Y.,  and  after 
remaining  there  for  two  years,  he  entered  college  at  Oberlin, 
where  he  at  once  took  a  marked  rank,  receiving  the  highest 
honors  for  his  thoroughness  and  originality.  He  had  early 
chosen  the  law  as  his  profession,  and,  upon  the  close  of  his 
collegiate  course,  in  1853,  he  started  for  Xew  York,  with  no 
friends  or  acquaintances  in  the  great  city,  with  scanty  means 
and  little  to  encourage  him  except  his  own  cherished  pur- 
poses, and  a  linn  heart. 

lie  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  DANIEL  B.  TAYLOR, 
who,  at  that  time,  enjoyed  a  large  practice  and  possessed  one 
of  the  largest  and  best  selected  law  libraries  in  the  city. 
Laborious  and  indefatigable  as  a  student,  he  soon  made  him- 
self complete  master  of  the  theory  of  law,  and  in  1855  was 


26  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

admitted  to  the  bar.  Soon  after  he  was  also  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  United  States  courts  as  proctor,  solicitor  and 
advocate.  In  October,  1856,  having  married  the  eldest 
daughter  of  Hon.  J.  0.  PETTINGILL,  of  Rochester,  K  Y.,  he 
chose  Yonkers,  "Westchester  county,  as  his  home,  where  he 
has  since  resided,  holding  many  important  town  and  village 
offices  and  trusts.  Rising  rapidly  in  his  profession,  his  pru- 
dence as  a  counselor  and  ability  as  an  advocate  soon  gave  him 
a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  His  peculiar  executive  power 
and  reliable  judgment  iu  business  transactions,  making  them- 
selves apparent,  he  was  retained  as  the  counsel  for  many 
moneyed  corporations  and  large  estates,  and  in  the  year  1862 
he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  North  America  Life 
Insurance  Company  of  New  York,  of  which  he  became  a 
director  and  counsel.  About  this  time,  after  collating  and 
analyzing  facts  and  statistics  in  respect  to  travel  and  acci- 
dents throughout  the  United  States  for  a  series  of  years,  he 
framed  a  bill  for  presentation  to  the  Legislature  to  allow  this 
company  to  insure  against  accidents  to  travelers;  the  bill 
was  passed,  and  thus  the  first  authority  was  granted  iu  this 
country  for  "accident  insurance" 

Though  so  thoroughly  a  business  man  and  so  perfectly 
devoted  to  his  profession,  yet  amid  all  the  calls  upon  his 
time  he  never  permitted  his  taste  for  literature  or  art  to 
become  dulled  or  enfeebled;  often  organizing  and  always 
connected  with  one  or  more  literary  circles,  he  could  not 
suffer  his  love  of  learning,  the  theoretical  and  the  beautiful, 
to  be  stifled  by  the  cares  or  responsibilities  of  his  profession 
or  the  routine  of  daily  labor.  He  has  gathered  at  his  home 
a  gallery  of  rare  pictures  and  works  of  art,  a  library  replete 
with  the  printed  thoughts  of  the  best  and  great,  and  is 
recognized  among  artists  and  men  of  letters  as  an  appre- 
ciative critic  —  a  man  of  cultivated  judgment. 

Born  of  Whig  parentage.  Mr.  SCRIBXER  early  attached  him- 
self to  that  party,  and  remained  a  member  of  it  until  it  had 
outlived  its  usefulness.  He  attended  the  national  conven- 


G.  HILTON  SCRIBNER.  27 

tion  which  nominated  FREMONT,  at  Philadelphia  in  1856, 
and  has  acted  with  the  Eepublican  party  ever  since.  He  was 
frequently  sent  to  State  conventions  as  a  delegate,  and  in 
1863  was  made  chairman  of  the  Eepnblican  county  com- 
mittee for  Westchester  county.  About  this  time,  there  were 
published  at  Yonkers,  two  papers  "The  Examiner"  and 
"  The  Clarion,"  both  professing  allegiance  to  the  Eepublican 
party,  but  crippling  its  prospects  in  Westchester  county  by 
local  strifes  and  personal  animosities.  Mr.  SCRIBNER  per- 
ceiving this,  and  persuading  a  few  of  his  friends  to  join  him, 
they  purchased  the  two  papers,  consolidated  them,  and  thus 
was  born  "  The  Statesman,"  the  paper  now  having  the  largest 
circulation  and  greatest  influence  in  the  llth  congressional 
district. 

In  1866,  Mr.  SCRIBNER,  with  others,  organized  the  Conti- 
nental Life  Insurance  Company  of  JST.  Y.,  becoming  its  vice- 
president  and  counsel,  and  the  unexampled  success  of  this 
corporation  is  due  in  a  measure  to  his  skill  and  energy.  Dur- 
ing these  years,  directing  an  extensive  law  practice,  president 
of  the  Palisade  Bank  at  Yonkers,  and  acting  director  of  several 
large  corporations,  the  tax  upon  his  energies  became  onerous, 
and  having  accumulated  a  moderate  fortune,  in  1868  he 
retired  from  business,  leaving  a  bright  and  successful  pro- 
fessional record  of  thirteen  years.  He  traveled  in  Europe, 
and  on  his  return  home,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  father  in 
western  Xew  York,  he  was  nominated  in  1869  for  the  State 
Senate.  Owing  to  prior  engagements  he  declined  this  nom- 
ination, and  in  the  same  year  was  elected  President  of  the 
Empire  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  ]STew  York. 

It  had  been  the  habit  of  the  Legislature  for  several  years 
previous  to  this  time,  at  each  sitting,  to  pass  bills  providing 
for  the  construction  of  boulevards  (so  called)  in  the  lower 
districts  of  Westchester  county,  and,  by  reason  of  these  leg- 
islative permissions,  taxes  had  been  increased  enormously 
in  these  lower  towns.  Mr.  SCRIBNER  was,  from  the  begin- 
ning, most  resolutely  opposed  to  these  oppressive  and  unjust 


28  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

measures,  and  upon  this  issue,  accepting  the  nomination  for 
the  Assembly  in  1870,  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  about 
six  hundred,  from  a  district  which  usually  gave  a  Demo- 
cratic majority  of  nearly  1,700,  being  the  first  member,  other 
than  a  Democrat,  elected  from  the  district  in  thirty-two 
years.  He  soon  made  his  influence  felt  in  the  House,  and 
gained  a  favorable  standing  with  his  constituency  and  the 
Republican  party  of  the  State. 

In  March,  1871,  he  engaged  with  some  of  his  friends, 
members  of  the  Legislature,  in  the  organization  of  the  Young 
Men's  State  Republican  Association,  and  was  elected  first 
president  of  the  same.  During  this  session  there  had  been 
a  marked  want  of  unity  of  purpose  and  action  among  the 
Republican  members  in  both  branches.  Sufficient  in  num- 
bers to  have  checked  improper  legislation,  and  in  many 
instances  to  have  assumed  control,  the  party  was  so  dis- 
tracted by  strife  and  estrangement  among  its  so-called 
leaders,  that  its  course  was  purposeless  and  feeble  in  the 
extreme.  To  unite  these  discordant  elements  for  the  coming 
campaign  was  the  chief  object  of  this  organization.  The 
movement  was  an  important  one,  and  its  leader  was  well 
fitted  for  the  position.  A  meeting  of  this  association  was  held 
in  May.  1871.  in  Xew  York  city,  thirty-eight  assembly  districts 
being  represented.  Arrangements  were  there  made  for  a  con- 
vention, to  be  held  in  the  following  June,  at  Binghamton. 
At  this  convention,  at  which  Mr.  SCRIBXER  presided,  no  less 
than  eighty  assembly  districts  were  represented.  This  organ- 
ization gained  to  a  fair  extent,  and  as  fully  as  the  most  san- 
guine of  its  promoters  could  have  anticipated,  the  confidence 
of  both  wings  of  the  party  in  the  State,  and  Mr.  SCRIBNER 
having  shown  himself  a  true  and  faithful  leader,  was  nomi- 
nated by  acclamation,  in  1871.  at  the  Republican  State  con- 
vention at  Syracuse,  for  Secretary  of  State,  and  this  nomi- 
nation was  duly  confirmed  by  the  people  in  the  Xovember 
following,  the  ticket  being  elected  by  a  majority  of  about 
20,000. 


Q.  HILTON  SCRIBNER.  29 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Legislature  of  1871  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  insurance,  and  other  corporations  of  the 
State,  united  in  a  complimentary  tribute  to  Mr.  SCRIBNER 
for  his  intelligent,  able  and  successful  opposition  to  unjust 
legislation  while  Member  of  Assembly.  The  compliment 
was  as  creditable  to  those  who  paid  it  as  it  was  deserved  by 
the  recipient,  both  Democrats  and  Eepublicans  uniting  in 
this  tribute  as  a  just  and  proper  recognition  of  the  services 
of  a  faithful  public  officer.  The  presentation  ceremonies, 
which  took  place  at  the  chambers  of  the  Board  of  Under- 
writers, in  New  York,  called  together  a  large  number  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  State,  and  the  record  of  what  was  said 
and  done  was  one  of  which  any  man  might  well  be  proud. 
In  offering  for  Mr.  SCRIBNER'S  acceptance  a  magnificent 
service  of  plate,  Judge  SAVAGE,  president  of  the  Board  of 
Underwriters,  presented  to  him  the  following  address,  beauti- 
fully engrossed  upon  parchment,  with  the  autograph  signa- 
tures of  the  parties  whose  names  are  appended  thereto  : 

TESTIMONIAL   TO   THE    HON.    G.    HILTON    SCRIBNER. 

"Regarding  the  conscientious  discharge  of  the  duties  of  an 
elect  representative  of  the  people  as  of  far  greater  conse- 
quence than  the  triumph  of  party,  or  the  most  brilliant  suc- 
cess of  ambition,  and,  sincerely  and  deeply  lamenting,  as  the 
prevailing  degeneracy  demands,  the  decline  of  legislative 
purity,  honor  and  integrity,  we  are  impelled,  by  these  consid- 
erations, to  pay  a  tribute  due  to  you  for  the  faithful  and 
exemplary  fulfillment  of  the  trust  reposed  in  you  by  your 
election  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

"The  course  you  have  pursued  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture for  1871  has  attracted  the  attentive  regard  and  received 
the  emphatic  commendation  of  all  classes,  of  every  interest, 
opinion  and  party.  Your  unwavering  and  able  maintenance 
of  just  and  intelligent  views,  and  pure  measures  of  public 
good,  in  defiance  of  an  active  and  powerful  opposition,  and 
great  and  numerous  temptations,  is,  in  times  like  the  pres- 
ent, a  worthy  subject  of  congratulation  to  your  own  imme- 
diate constituency,  and  to  the  electors  and  people  of  the 
Empire  State. 


30  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

"  The  subscribers  have  special  reasons  to  acknowledge  the 
merit  of  your  public  services.  The  aggressive  and  danger- 
ous character  of  recent  legislation  on  insurance,  in  various 
States  of  the  Union,  threatens  the  prosperity  and  very  exist- 
ence in  this  country  of  this  beneficent  institution ;  and  the 
particular  purpose  of  this  testimonial  is  to  express,  in  behalf 
of  the  life  and  fire  insurance  companies,  and  other  corporate 
interests  of  this  metropolis,  their  grateful  appreciation 
of  the  potent  influence  and  strenuous  efforts  you  have  con- 
stantly exerted  to  secure  them  the  privileges  and  protection 
to  which  they  are,  by  their  importance  and  usefulness,  so 
fully  and  fairly  entitled. 

"  Above  all  do  we  feel  cordial  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the 
value  of  your  championship  in  repelling  the  assaults  made 
upon  the  vested  rights  of  these  corporations,  which,  if  suc- 
cessful, would  have  destroyed  public  confidence  in  their 
securities,  ruined  their  business,  and  dealt  a  fatal  blow  at 
the  commercial  and  financial  supremacy  of  this  Common- 
wealth. 

"  With  this  brief  and  general  testimony  to  the  efficient  zeal 
and  ability  displayed  by  you  throughout  your  public  career, 
which  deserves  a  more  detailed  description  than  might  be 
acceptable  to  your  modest  sense  of  your  own  merits,  accept 
the  assurances  of  our  profound  esteem,  and  our  hearty  thanks 
for  the  protection  you  have  so  essentially  helped  to  extend  to 
persons  and  property,  and  for  your  powerful  and  successful 
advocacy  of  the  cause  of  the  widow  and  orphan,  and  the  true 
principles  and  practice  of  good  and -wise  government. 

"  NEW  YORK,  May  1,  1871. 

(Signed,) 

"George  W.  Miller.  Superintendent  Insurance  Department. 
F.  S.  Winston,  President  Mutual  Life.  William  C.  Alex- 
ander, President  Equitable  Life.  H.  B.  Hyde,  Vice-President 
Equitable  Life.  Morris  Franklin,  President  Xew  York  Life. 
W.  H.  Beers,  Vice-President  Xew  York  Life.  John  E. 
De  Witt,  President  United  States  Life.  Henry  Stokes,  Presi- 
dent Manhattan  Life.  C.  Y.  Wemple,  Vice-President  Man- 
hattan Life.  Erastus  Lyman,  President  Knickerbocker  Life. 
W.  H.  Peckham,  President  Guardian  Mutual  Life.  Cyrus 
Curtis,  President  Washington  Life.  William  A.  Brewer,  Jr., 
Vice-President  Washington  Life.  Hugo  Wesendonck.  Presi- 
dent Germania  Life.  Robert  L.  Case,  President  Security 


G.  HILTON  SCRIBNER.  31 

Life.  Theodore  R.  Wetmore,  Vice-President  Security  Life. 
N".  D.  Morgan,  President  North  America  Life.  Pliny  Free- 
man, President  Globe  Mutual  Life.  Charles  H.  Raymond, 
President  Widows'  and  Orphans'  Benefit  Life.  Edward  A. 
Jones,  President  National  Life.  Christian  W.  Bouck,  Presi- 
dent Brooklyn  Life.  William  Walker,  President  Universal 
Life.  Justus  Lawrence,  President  Continental  Life.  James 
H.  Frothingham,  President  World  Mutual  Life.  C.  N.  Mor- 

Ein,  President  Excelsior  Life.  George  Opdyke,  Standard 
ife.  John  R.  Hegeman,  Vice-President  Metropolitan  Life. 
Henry  A.  Oakley,  President  New  York  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters.  George  W.  Savage,  Vice-President  New 
York  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters.  Charles  J.  Mar- 
tin, President  Home  Life  Insurance  Company.  George 
T.  Hope,  President  Continental  Insurance  Company. 
Carlisle  Norwood,  President  Lorillard  Insurance  Company. 
Stephen  Crowell,  President  Phoenix  Insurance  Company. 

A.  F.   Hastings,    President   Security   Insurance    Company. 

B.  S.  Walcott,  President  Hanover  Fire  Insurance  Company. 
Alexander  Stoddart,  General  Agent  Underwriters'"  Agency. 
John  K.  Myers,  President  Pacific  Mutual  Insurance   Com- 
pany.  James  P.Wallace,  President  New  York  Guarantee  and 
Indemnity  Company.     John  A.  Stewart,  President  LTnited 
States  Trust  Company.     J.  E.  Southworth,  President  Atlan- 
tic   National    Bank.      William    Orton,    President   Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company.     John  E.  Williams,  President 
Metropolitan  National   Bank.     William   L.  Wallace,  Presi- 
dent   West    Side    Elevated    Railroad    Company.        H.    P. 
Morgan,  President  Government  Security  Life.     George  B. 
Satterlee,  President   Eclectic   Life.      Andrew   W.    Morgan, 
President    Mutual    Protection  Life.      D.    D.    T.    Marshall, 
President  Homceopathic   Mutual   Life.      Edward  A.  Lam- 
bert,   President    Craftsmen's    Life.      E.    Dwight    Kendall, 
President   Amicable   Mutual   Life.     William    Edsall.  Vice- 
President  Hope  Mutual  Life.     James  B.  Pearson,  President 
Commonwealth    Life.      E.  W.   Crowell,   Resident  Manager 
Imperial  Fire.     Ezra  White,  North  British  and  Mercantile 
Insurance  Company.     Alfred  Pell,  Liverpool.  London  and 
Globe.     John  Adriance,  President  Central  Park  and  North 
River  Railroad  Company." 

After  reading  the  address,  Judge  SAVAGE  said :  "  On  behalf 
of  these  great  interests,  and  these  numerous  friends  here 
assembled,  allow  me  to  present  you  with  this  written  state 


32  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

merit  of  our  opinion  and  our  respect,  and  also,  on  behalf  of 
the  same  interests,  allow  me  to  present  to  you  this  testi- 
monial of  our  respect  and  esteem  toward  you  (referring  to 
the  silver  service).  I  am  happy  to  say  that  you  fully  deserve 
it,  and  I  have  no  doubt  you  are,  as  you  ought  to  be,  proud 
to-day  to  receive  the  expression  of  the  grateful  feelings  of 
these  monetary  interests  of  New  York,  acknowledged  as  due 
to  you." 

Mr.  SCRIBNER  made  an  eloquent  and  appropriate  response, 
after  which  congratulatory  addresses  were  delivered  by 
Hon.  WILLIAM  ORTON,  Hon.  CHAUNCEY  M.  DEPEW  and 
Hon.  WILLIAM  BARNES. 

Mr.  SCRIRXER,  since  entering  upon  his  present  office,  has 
resided  in  Albany  during  the  sessions  of  the  Legislature, 
and,  as  a  member  of  the  Canal  Board,  a  Commissioner  of 
the  Land  Office,  a  llegent  of  the  University,  and  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Charities,  has  been  most  efficient  and 
constant  in  his  attendance,  and  so  administered  the  State 
Department  as  to  avoid  all  complaint  and  criticism,  and 
meet  with  the  general  approval  of  all. 

Besides  acting  in  his  official  capacity,  as  Secretary  of  State, 
Mr.  SCRIBXER  holds  also  some  important  business  positions 
and  trusts,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  a  directorship  in 
the  Atlantic  National  Bank,  New  York  city;  the  Loaners' 
Bank,  New  York  city;  the  Abingdon  Square  Savings  Bank, 
New  York  city ;  the  Continental  Life  Insurance  Co.,  New 
York  city;  the  German  American  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  New 
York  city;  and  is  a  trustee  of  the  American  Bible  Union, 
New  York,  the  Rochester  Theological  Seminary,  and  the  St. 
John  Riverside  Hospital. 

Thought  and  its  translation  into  action  constitute  life. 
He,  then,  may  most  fitly  be  called  representative  whose  life 
is  the  most  perfect  complement  of  his  noble  and  successful 
ideas.  The  division  of  men  into  thinkers  and  practical  men, 
however  unfortunate,  is  generally  well  grounded.  But,  in 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  we  have  an  exception.  Mr.  SCRIB- 


G.  HILTON  SCRIUNER.  33 

NEB  turns  to  practical  account  broad  and  vigorous  thought, 
and  thus  makes  to  himself  power.  A  man  of  deep  and 
accurate  thinking,  he  is  at  the  same  time  a  man  of  fearless 
and  decided  action,  illustrating  in  his  business,  professional 
and  political  experience  the  possibilities  under  the  genius 
of  our  American  institutions,  where  energy  and  integrity 
are  united,  and  demonstrating  with  equal  clearness  that  per- 
sonal and  political  popularity  are  quite  compatible  with 
strict  fidelity  to  public  trust. 


34  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

NELSON  K.  HOPKINS, 

COMPTROLLER. 

The  family  of  Hon.  NELSON  K.  HOPKINS,  Comptroller  of 
the  State,  was  of  New  England  origin.  His  father,  General 
TIMOTHY  S.  HOPKINS,  emigrated  in  the  year  1800  from 
Great  Barrington,  Mass.,  to  Williamsville,  a  small  town  in 
the  vicinity  of  Buffalo,  in  the  then  county  of  Niagara.  By 
occupation  a  farmer,  he  was  a  man  of  sterling  sense  and 
worth,  and  held  various  public  offices  of  trust  and  honor, 
both  in  the  civil  and  military  service.  He  was  commissioned 
as  a  Captain  by  Gov.  GEORGE  CLINTON,  as  Major  by  Gov.  MOR- 
GAN LEWIS,  and  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral by  Gov.  DANIEL  D.  TOMPKINS.  NELSON,  the  second  of 
the  five  sons  now  living,  was  born  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1819.  He  remained  on  the  farm  until  he  was  about  sixteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  attended  school  for  a  time  at  Fredonia 
in  the  county  of  Chautauqua.  From  1838  to  1840,  he  was  a 
student  in  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  where 
he  completed  his  collegiate  preparations,  and  in  the  spring 
of  the  latter  year  entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Union  Col- 
lege, graduating  in  1842  with  high  standing.  Among  his 
class-mates  Avere  several  who  have  since  attained  distinction, 
including  Hon.  CLARKSON  N.  POTTER,  member  of  Congress, 
and  Hon.  JAMES  WOOD,  of  the  State  Senate.  In  connection 
with  the  latter  an  interesting  circumstance  is  related  of 
young  HOPKINS.  The  two  students,  as  was  not  unfrequent 
among  their  associates,  visited  Albany  on  one  occasion,  and 
neither  being  blessed  with  a  surplus  of  money,  they  found 
themselves  at  the  close  of  their  stay  without  the  means  of 
returning.  In  this  exigency,  nothing  daunted,  the  spirited 
young  men  started  on  foot  and  faithfully  trudged  all  the 
way  from  Albany  to  Schenectady. 

Even  before  entering  college,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  had 


NELSON  K.  HOPKINS.  o5 

evinced  strong  force  of  character  and  energy  of  purpose.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  he  had  been  elected  captain  of  a  company 
in  the  State  militia,  and  at  the  time  of  the  "  Patriot  War," 
which  centered  about  the  Niagara  river,  though  still  a  student 
at  Lima,  he  was  called  home  to  enter  the  service  with  his 
company,  and  for  a  month  had  command  of  Black  Rock  in 
the  vicinity  of  Buffalo.  Returning  from  college,  Mr.  HOP- 
KINS began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  ELBRIDGE 
G.  SPAULDING  at  Buffalo,  and  in  1846  was  admitted  as  an 
attorney.  From  the  very  first  he  has  enjoyed  an  honorable 
and  lucrative  practice.  He  has  especially  had  confided  to 
him  the  most  delicate  duties  in  the  settlement  of  estates,  the 
establishment  of  titles  and  all  that  branch  of  professional 
service,  and  in  these  positions  of  fiduciary  trust  has  secured 
the  highest  respect  for  his  honor,  fidelity  and  capacity.  In 
1848,  he  married  the  only  daughter  of  Hon.  ORLANDO 
ALLEN,  but  she  died  in  1853.  In  1855,  he  married  his 
present  wife,  who  is  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  late  Hon. 
HIRAM  PRATT,  and  a  most  estimable  lady.  His  family  con- 
sists of  five  children. 

Although  Mr.  HOPKINS  has  always  been  actively  engaged 
in  professional  labors,  he  has  at  various  times  been  called  to 
serve  his  fellow-citizens.  Frequently  elected  supervisor  and 
alderman,  he  was  also  one  year  president  of  the  common 
council.  In  1866  he  was  appointed  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue,  and  filled  that  position  with  credit  and  satisfaction. 
He  has  also  been  for  many  years  a  director  and  attorney  of 
AVhite's  Bank  at  Buffalo  ;  attorney  for  the  Western  Savings 
Bank;  life  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Association  ;  trustee 
of  the  Free  Grosvenor  Library;  and  has  held  many  positions 
of  public  and  professional  trust,  attesting  the  high  esteem 
with  which  lie  is  regarded  by  the  community  where  he  lives. 
Such  was  the  great  respect  entertained  for  him  by  Ihose 
among  whom  he  has  always  resided,  and  such  their  elevated 
opinion  especially  of  the  conscientiousness  and  ability  for 
financial  administration  which  he  has  displayed  throughout 


36  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

his  career,  that,  without  his  own  solicitation  or  knowledge, 
he  was  unanimously  presented  by  the  Erie  delegation  at  the 
Republican  State  Convention  of  1871,  as  a  candidate  for 
Comptroller,  and  promptly  nominated.  He  and  his  associates 
were  recognized  as  embodying  the  reform  sentiment  then  so 
pronounced  among  the  people,  and  the  ticket  was  elected  by 
a  handsome  majority. 

In  this  responsible  office.  Mr.  HOPKINS  has  signally  vindi- 
cated the  judgment  with  which  he  was  selected,  and  proved 
himself  a  worthy  successor  of  such  men  as  MARCY,  WRIGHT, 
FLAGG,  FILLMORE,  HILLHOUSE  and  ALLEN.  None  of  his 
predecessors  have  received  more  general  and  cordial  com- 
mendation than  he  has  for  the  faithful  vigilance  with  which 
he  has  guarded  the  interests  of  the  State  and  the  marked 
ability  with  which  he  has  administered  its  finances.  Whether 
a  comptroller  be  lax  or  rigid  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
may  entail  a  loss  or  effect  a  saving  of  thousands  upon  thou- 
sands to  the  treasury.  At  the  outset,  Mr.  HOPKINS  adopted 
the  rule  of  giving  the  most  careful  scrutiny  to  every  matter- 
coming  before  him,  and  this  rule  he  has  scrupulously 
observed,  transacting  the  business  of  the  State  with  the  same 
care  and  watchfulness  and  frugality  which  he  would  carry 
into  the  conduct  of  private  business.  He  reduced  the  number 
of  assistants  in  his  office,  subjected  every  claim  to  rigorous  in- 
spection, and  made  the  auditing  of  accounts  something  more 
than  a  mere  ministerial  duty.  So  great  is  the  confidence  felt  in 
his  integrity  and  discretion  that  the  Legislature  has  vested  him 
with  larger  powers  over  the  expenditure  of  appropriations  in 
connection  with  public  institutions  than  were  ever  before  con- 
fided to  the  Comptroller,  and  it  is  not  an  undue  estimate  to  say 
that  by  his  prudence  and  firmness  he  has  saved  the  State  at 
least  half  a  million  dollars.  ISTotonly  in  Impractical  adminis- 
tration of  the  department,  but  in  his  official  discussions  and 
recommendations,  he  has  shown  conspicuous  talent  for  the 
position.  His  arinual  report  presented  to  the  Legislature  in 
January,  1873,  attracted  unusual  attention,  and  commanded 


NELSON  K.  HOPKINS.  37 

the  hearty  and  unreserved  approbation  of  men  and  journals 
of  all  parties,  for  its  incomparably  clear  exposition  of  State 
finances,  and  its  valuable  suggestions.  It  was  signally  suc- 
cessful in  stripping  the  various  intricate  funds  of  the 
obscurities  with  which  the  traditional  method  of  statement 
surrounds  them;  in  exhibiting  at  a  glance  the  condition  of 
the  treasury;  in  pointing  out  the  true  checks  upon  extrava- 
gant expenditure,  and  in  treating  the  subject  of  taxation. 
The  general  judgment  is  that  it  fairly  ranks  among  the  best 
of  our  State  papers. 

Always  among  his  own  neighbors,  and  now  throughout 
the  State,  Comptroller  HOPKINS  is  respected  for  his  unswerv- 
ing probity,  his  sound  judgment,  and  his  large  ability.  Per- 
sonally he  is  a  man  of  strong  friendships,  warmly  attaching 
to  himself  those  with  whom  he  is  brought  into  contact. 
Frank,  direct  and  outspoken,  he  is  at  the  same  time  cordial 
and  unaffected,  and  his  fine  clear-cut  features  express  at  once 
firm  decision  of  character  and  winning  amiability  of  dispo- 
sition. 


38  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


THOMAS  RAINES, 

STATE  TREASURER. 

THOMAS  EAINES,  the  present  Treasurer  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  is  one  of  the  youngest  men  ever  chosen  by  the 
people  for  a  position  of  so  much  importance.  He  is  now  in 
his  thirty-first  year  and  was  called  to  preside  over  the  Treas- 
ury when  but  twenty-nine.  The  American  people,  however, 
have  regard  rather  to  ability  than  years,  agreeing  with  the 
Earl  of  Chatham,  that  youth  is  not  that  sort  of  an  "  atrocious 
crime"  which  stands  in  need  of  any  palliation  or  denial. 

Mr.  EAIXES  was  born  at  Canandaigua,  Ontario  county, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  13th  of  August,  1842.  He  is  of  English 
descent  on  his  father's  side,  and  Scotch  on  his  mother's. 
His  grandfather,  JOHN  EAIXES,  a  sturdy  Englishman,  was 
born  in  1784.  At  the  early  age  of  twenty-eight  he  had 
acquired  a  large  fortune  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and,  not- 
withstanding the  cares  of  business,  had  found  time  while 
amassing  it  to  fulfill  the  duties  of  the  sacred  office.  He  was 
the  regularly  installed  minister  of  a  Methodist  congregation, 
and  had  intimate  relations  with  the  celebrated  divine, 
EGBERT  HALL,  and  other  illustrious  contemporaries. 

We  believe  the  historians  are  not  at  one.  as  yet,  as  to  the 
cause  that  induced  the  return  of  Napoleon  from  his  island 
retreat  at  Elba,  but  very  many  men  in  England,  France  and 
elsewhere,  knew  too  well  the  effect  of  the  reappearance  of  the 
Little  Corporal.  JOHN  EAIXES  was  one  of  these,  and  his 
financial  losses  were  so  heavy  as  to  induce  him  to  gather  up 
the  remnants  of  his  broken  fortune  and  try  to  better  his  con- 
dition in  America.  In  the  year  1821,  the  merchant-minister 
arrived  at  Philadelphia,  and  soon  after  commenced  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  at  that  point.  The  usual  nps  and 
downs  marked  his  life  in  the  city  of  Brotherly  Love,  and 
after  being  twice  burned  out,  and  declining  an  offer  of  part- 


THOMAS  RAINES.  39 

nership  from  the  now  celebrated  Thomas  Tasker,  he  aban- 
doned the  Keystone  for  the  Empire  State,  and  took  up  his 
residence  at  Canandaigua. 

The  father  of  the  Treasurer,  another  JOHN  RAINES,  was 
born  at  Hull,  in  the  East  Hiding  of  Yorkshire,  England,  in 
the  year  1818.  While  yet  an  infant  he  was  brought  to  this 
country  by  his  parents,  and  here  he  has  resided  ever  since. 

After  leaving  school,  and  until  his  twenty-seventh  year, 
he  followed  farming  for  a  living.  He  then  abandoned  sec- 
ular pursuits  and  entered  the  ministry.  For  many  years 
he  was  widely  known  in  Western  New  York,  being  rec- 
ognized as  standing  among  the  foremost  of  his  Methodist 
brethren.  Mrs.  RAINES,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  was  a  Miss  MARY  REMINGTON.  Her  ancestors  came 
from  New  England,  but  she  herself  was  born  near  Canan- 
daigua. 

The  leading  facts  in  the  life  of  the  Treasurer  are  about  as 
follows : 

After  receiving  the  usual  common  school  education,  and 
supplementing  it  with  a  good  deal  of  self-taught  instruction, 
he  closed  his  text-books  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen.  Those 
who  think  they  can  see  the  coming  oak  in  every  acorn,  will 
be  interested  in  knowing  that  the  future  financial  head  of 
the  State  left  behind  him,  at  the  common  school  from  which 
he  graduated,  a  reputation  for  unusual  proficiency  in  mathe- 
matics. Commencing  his  business  life  on  the  bottom  round 
of  the  long  ladder,  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  a  store  at 
Lyons,  AVayne  county,  in  this  State,  at  an  annual  salary  of 
one  hundred  dollars.  His  industry,  talents  and  determina- 
tion soon  led  to  his  promotion,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he 
had  charge  of  the  books  of  a  large  mercantile  establishment. 
A  little  later  we  find  him  book-keeper  in  the  Bank  of  Canan- 
daigua, in  which  institution  his  education  in  fiscal  matters 
fairly  commenced.  Keeping  the  books  of  the  bank  for  a 
year,  he  developed  so  much  capacity  as  a  banker  that  he  was 
promoted  to  be  acting  cashier. 


40  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

At  the  age  of  twenty,  Mr.  RAINES  had  attained  a  broad 
and  accurate  knowledge  of  the  important  and  intricate 
branch  of  business  to  which  he  had  resolved  to  devote  his 
future,  and,  in  connection  with  a  number  of  capitalists  of 
western  New  York,  he  then  proceeded  to  start  a  National 
Bank,  one  of  the  first,  it  may  be  remarked,  ever  organized 
in  the  country.  This  bank  was  located  at  Geneva,  Ontario 
county,  and  under  the  management  of  Mr.  RAINES,  enjoyed 
a  high  degree  of  prosperity. 

In  1867,  he  removed  to  Rochester  and,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  became  financial  officer  of  the  Farmers  and  Mechanics' 
National  Bank  of  Rochester.  In  this  position,  as  in  his 
preceding  ones,  he  has  been  eminently  successful,  and  has 
built  up  a  large  business. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1864,  Mr.  RAINES  was  married 
to  Charrie,  daughter  of  Hon.  JOSEPH  HALSTEAD,  of  Columbia 
county.  She  died  on  the  5th  of  March,  1870,  to  the  poignant 
grief  of  a  large  circle  of  friends.  A  lady  of  high  intellectual 
endowment,  and  the  possessor  of  varied  accomplishments, 
she  was  in  very  deed  and  truth  a  helpmeet  for  her  husband. 
Whatever  of  prosperity  may  have  attended  the  later  years 
of  his  life,  he  attributes,  for  the  major  part,  to  her  wise 
counsels,  and  her  unfailing  sympathy  in  all  his  undertakings. 

At  the  Republican  State  Convention,  which  met  at 
Rochester,  in  September,  1871,  Mr.  RAINES  was  nominated 
by  acclamation  for  the  position  which  he  now  holds.  In  the 
canvass  that  followed,  he  made  a  most  gallant  fight,  and 
gained  the  day  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  The  estima- 
tion in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens  is  shown  in 
the  fact  of  his  running  nearly  a  thousand  ahead  of  the  State 
ticket  in  Rochester.  When  a  prophet  (or  a  banker)  comes 
no  nearer  than  that  from  being  "  without  honor  in  his  own 
country,"  the  conclusion  is  irresistible  that  his  neighbors 
have  entire  confidence  in  the  prophet  (or  banker).  Mr. 
RAINES'  entire  majority  in  the  State  was  21,784 ;  he  polled 
the  highest  vote  on  the  ticket. 


THOMAS.  RAINES.  41 

Mr.  RAINES  has  been  for  many  years,  and  still  continues 
to  be,  an  active  Kepublican.  Sympathizing  with  the  Liberal 
movement  he  attended  the  Cincinnati  Convention  in  May 
last,  and  was  made  one  of  its  Vice-Presidents.  Since  his  induc- 
tion into  the  office  which  he  now  holds,  he  has  justified  the 
high  expectations  of  his  friends,  demonstrating  both  his 
capacity  and  disposition  to  guard  the  treasury  against  all 
thieves,  and  wisely  administer  its  finances.  One  of  the 
most  active  members  of  the  Canal  Board,  he  has  gained  the 
commendation  of  all  who  favor  economy  and  frugality  by  his 
eiforts  for  the  cancellation  of  repair  contracts,  and  a  sweeping 
and  thorough  canal  investigation. 

By  virtue  of  his  office  Mr.  RAINES  is  a  Commissioner  of  the 
Land  Office  and  of  the  Canal  Fund,  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  State  Canvassers,  and,  as  we  have  already  indicated,  of  the 
Canal  Board. 


42  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

FRANCIS  C.  BARLOW, 

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 

A  slight,  almost  delicate  form,  yet  as  closely  knit  as  that 
of  a  deer;  a  pair  of  strange,  grey  eyes;  a  well  developed, 
classical  head,  a  firm,  expressive  mouth,  giving  the  features, 
in  repose,  an  air  of  sadness ;  and  you  have  an  outline  of 
General  BARLOW'S  physique. 

FRANCIS  C.  BARLOW  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
on  the  19th  of  October,  1834,  of  New  England  parentage. 
When  he  was  two  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  where,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  spent  in  New  Hampshire,  he  resided  until 
he  entered  Harvard.  He  prepared  for  college  at  one  of  the 
institutions  in  Cambridge,  and  was  matriculated  at  Harvard 
in  1851.  During  his  collegiate  course  he  was  distinguished 
for  his  fine  scholarship,  graduating  with  the  honors  of 
his  class,  in  July,  1855.  In  the  month  of  September 
following,  he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he 
was  very  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  private  classes, 
for  the  purpose  of  preparing  young  men  for  college.  In  the 
autumn  of  1856,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  WILLIAM 
CURTIS  NOTES,  Esq.,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1857.  He  was  then  employed  as  a  clerk  by  Messrs.  WIIEA- 
TON  &  LIVINGSTON,  attorneys  and  counselors  at  law,  also 
reporting  law  cases  for  the  Tribune,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1858.  In  the  month  of  January,  1859,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  GEORGE  BLISS,  Jr..  now  United  States 
District  Attorney  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York,  but 
his  professional  duties  were  interrupted  by  the  rebellion  of 
1861.  rlhe  very  day  that  heralded  the  assault  on  Slimier 
found  him  ready,  at  almost  a  moment's  warning,  to  leave  his 
business  and  his  home,  in  order  to  defend  the  principles 
which  had  found  such  deep  root  in  his  heart.  He  hated 


FRANCIS  C.  BARLOW.  43 

servitude  in  all  its  forms ;  and  he  loved,  both  by  nature  and 
education,  all  the  foundation  precepts  of  liberty  in  their 
highest  and  broadest  sense ;  and  he  was  prepared  to  go 
beyond  the  simple  entertainment  of  these  views;  he  was 
willing  to  make  any  sacrifice,  however  great,  in  order  to 
maintain  the  eternal  justice  of  the  nation's  cause. 

Although  his  friends  knew  how  deeply  he  cherished  his 
opinions,  yet  they  were  unprepared  for  the  announcement 
that  he  would  enter  the  ranks  as  a  private  soldier.  He  had 
bright  prospects  ahead  in  his  profession ;  but,  though  his 
attention  was  directed  to  them,  he  saw,  above  all,  the  danger 
of  the  country. 

"Wait,"  said  some  of  his  friends,  '"'and  we  will  get  a  com- 
mission for  you." 

"  A  commission  for  me  ?  "  was  his  inquiry, "  I  never  handled 
a  gun  in  my  life!" 

Without  further  ceremony,  he  joined  the  12th  State  Militia, 
on  the  20th  of  April,  1861,  which  went  out  for  three  months. 
There  was  no  nourish  about  this  act;  in  an  unostentatious 
manner,  Mr.  BARLOW  was  enrolled  as  a  private,  and  in  the 
same  quiet  way  he  commenced  his  proud  record.  The  next 
day  after  he  enlisted,  his  regiment  departed  for  Washington 
in  defense  of  the  capital.  While  in  camp,  he  applied  him- 
self, in  an  assiduous  manner,  to  the  study  of  military  treatises. 
Every  leisure  moment  found  him,  book  in  hand,  mastering 
the  tactics.  At  the  end  of  three  or  four  weeks,  he  accepted 
the  position  of  First  Lieutenant,  offered  him  by  Colonel 
BUTTERFIELD,  who  fully  appreciated  his  merits. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  period  for  which  he  had  enlisted, 
lie  returned  to  New  York.  But  not  feeling  that  his  whole 
duty  to  his  country  had  been  discharged,  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Gist  regiment,  New  York  volunteers,  he  Avas 
selected  and  appointed  as  its  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  thus 
opened  another  chapter  in  his  military  course.  He  had  com- 
menced at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  but  he  saw  what  many 
so  often  fail  to  perceive,  that  all  one  has  to  do  is  to  put  one  foot 


44  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

above  the  other,  and  the  ascent  must  be  sure.  Moreover,  he  was 
not  satisfied  with  being  competent  for  performing  the  duties 
of  a  lieutenant-colonelcy.  The  same  spirit  that  had,  before, 
commenced  to  learn  the  simple  evolutions  of  a  company, 
looked  ahead,  far  beyond  the  elementary  principles  of  the 
science  of  war,  to  the  grand  sweep  of  brigades,  divisions  and 
corps. 

His  regiment  was  assigned  to  General  MCCLELLAJT'S 
army ;  and  during  the  autumn  and  winter  months  of  1861, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  BARLOW  was  studying  the  tactics,  as  he 
had  leisure,  with  a  resolute  will.  When  the  grand  army 
moved  down  in  front  of  Yorktown,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  colonel.  In  a  few  days  transpired  the  fierce  battle 
of  Fair  Oaks  in  which  the  valor  of  our  soldiers  was  put  to 
a  severe  trial.  During  this  engagement  Colonel  BARLOW'S 
regiment  lost  its  color-bearer  and  four  of  the  color-guard, 
and  General  HOWARD,  having  lost  an  arm,  gave  the  com- 
mand of  his  brigade  to  Colonel  BARLOW.  He  fearlessly  led 
the  troops  into  the  midst  of  the  slaughter,  now  encouraging 
by  his  words,  now  holding  them  firmly  in  their  positions  by 
his  authority  and  presence,  never  permitting  them  to  swerve 
from  points  already  gained.  His  bravery  won  for  him  a 
single  star  upon  his  shoulder.  He  distinguished  himself  in 
the  same  gallant  manner  during  the  bloody  "  Seven  Days' 
Fight."  The  next  conflict  in  which  he  took  a  prominent 
part  was  at  Antietam.  On  this  occasion,  he  was  wounded  in 
the  breast  and  groin,  and  his  life  despaired  of  by  the  sur- 
geons. But  his  noble,  faithful  wife  nursed  him  with  a 
womanly  tenderness  that  saved  his  life.  Two  days  after  the 
battle,  and  on  September  19,  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  be  a 
Brigadier-General  "  for  distinguished  gallantry  at  the  battle 
of  Fair  Oaks."  As  soon  as  he  recovered  he  led  a  brigade  into 
the  bloody  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  Shortly  afterward  he 
was  given  the  command  of  a  division.  When  the  waves  of 
the  rebellion  dashed  upon  the  southern  slope  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, General  BARLOW  led  his  division  into  the  horrible 


FRANCIS  C.  BARLOW.  45 

engagement.  Without  a  twinge  of  physical  fear,  in  the 
midst  of  shell  and  cannon,  he  rode  in  front  of  the  line, 
inspiriting  troops  and  exhorting  them  to  remain  unyielding. 
Wheeling  squadrons,  carrying  slaughter  in  their  courses, 
swept  on  like  mighty  engines  of  destruction,  and  still  the 
slight  form  of  General  BARLOW  was  seen  dashing  from 
one  point  of  attack  to  another.  At  last,  the  fearless  rider 
fell  from  his  horse,  wounded  by  four  musket  balls.  The 
great  agony  of  the  fight  "went  on,  and  the  brave  general 
lay  on  the  field,  exposed  to  the  fire  of  friend  and  foe.  While 
in  this  condition  he  was  again  twice  wounded.  When 
night  terminated  the  battle,  he  was  found  by  the  rebel  Gen- 
eral EARLY,  who,  while  passing  over  the  field,  discovered  his 
rank  by  the  star  upon  his  shoulder.  Supposing  him  to  be 
dead,  General  EARLY  paused  with  his  staff  officers,  to  learn 
his  name,  remarking  that  nothing  could  be  done  for  the  dead 
general.  Feebly  raising  his  head,  General  BARLOW  gave 
EARLY  that  terse,  gritty  reply,  which  was  afterward,  at 
the  battle  of  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  so  fully  verified : 
"  I  will  live  to  fight  you  yet,  General!" 

The  assiduous  attentions  of  Mrs.  BARLOW,  who  had  accom- 
panied the  army,  succoring  the  wounded  in  hospital  and 
field,  again  brought  her  husband  from  the  valley  of  death. 
We  would  further  add  that  this  noble  wife  —  a  most  accom- 
plished and  beautiful  woman —  in  her  work  of  heroic  self- 
sacrifices,  contracted  the  hospital  fever,  and  died  as  truly 
and  nobly  a  martyr  to  country  as  the  bravest  soldier  who 
ever  fell  on  a  battle-field. 

Returning  to  the  field  in  March,  1864,  he  was  given  the 
command  of  the  first  division  of  the  2d  (Hancock's  Corps), 
and  in  command  of  it  he  participated  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness.  In  one  of  the  engagements  he  captured  a 
whole  division  of  General  EARLY'S  corps,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  JOHNSON,  and  forty  pieces  of  artillery. 
In  front  of  Petersburg  he  was  promoted  to  a  major-general- 
ship. Taking  a  prominent  part  in  the  closing  conflict 


46  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

before  Richmond,  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  great 
army  of  the  Confederacy  vanquished  by  the  determined 
legions  of  the  North. 

In  the  autumn  of  1865,  General  BARLOW  was  nominated 
by  the  union  party  of  New  York,  as  candidate  for  the  office 
of  Secretary  of  State,  against  General  SLOCUM,  who  had 
been  nominated  by  the  democrats,  and  was  elected,  after  an 
exciting  and  warmly  contested  campaign,  by  a  majority  of 
27,491.  His  administration  was  in  every  way  creditable  to 
himself  and  satisfactory  to  the  people.  Resuming  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  on  the  expiration  of  his  term,  he  added  to  a 
reputation  already  brilliant,  by  his  able  and  trenchant  protest 
against  the  degradation  of  the  legal  profession  under  the 
malign  influence  of  Erie  corruption. 

General  BARLOW  was  elected  to  his  present  honorable  and 
responsible  position  by  a  majority  not  far  from  twenty  thous- 
and. Prompt  and  decisive  in  peace  as  in  war,  he  administers 
the  duties  of  his  office  as  successfully  as  he  led  his  men  on 
the  battle  field. 


WILLIAM'S.  TAYLOR.  47 

WILLIAM  B.  TAYLOR, 

STATE  ENGINEER   AND   SURVEYOR. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  bom  on  the  27th  of 
February,  1824,  in  Manchester,  Oneida  county,  New  York. 
His  father,  JOB  TAYLOR,  was,  for  some  time,  foreman  of  a 
cotton  mill  at  Manchester,  and  from  1830  to  1837,  was  "mine 
host"  of  an  inn  in  Utica  in  high  favor  with  the  traveling 
public.  His  son.  with  whom  we  have  to  do,  received  his 
schooling  at  the  Utica  academy,  and  was  only  prevented 
from  pursuing  a  collegiate  course  at  Geneva  by  the  reverses 
of  fortune.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  closed  his  text-books, 
to  take  up  that  le*on  of  self-reliance,  which  henceforth  was 
to  be  taught  him,  and  which  he  was  to  learn  so  well  in  that 
great  school,  the  world.  In  1837,  his  brother,  LORENZO,  Avas 
elected  city  surveyor  of  Utica,  and  appointed  WILLIAM  as  his 
assistant.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  unremitting  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  In  1849,  he  accepted  a  position  as 
leveler  in  the  engineer's  department  of  the  enlargement  of 
the  Erie  canal,  and  for  many  succeeding  years  remained  in 
the  employ  of  the  State  as  first,  and  second,  resident  and 
division  engineer.  In  18G1  he  was  elected  State  Engineer 
and  Surveyor,  the  position  which  he  now  holds,  by  the  mag- 
nificent majority  of  over  100,000.  He  was  twice  city  sur- 
veyor of  Utica,  and  from  1857  to  1860,  inclusive,  was  a 
member  of  the  common  council  of  that  city.  He  was  form- 
erly a  Whig,  and  lias  been  a  member  of  the  Ivepublican  party 
since  its  organization.  When  elected  State  Eno-ineer  and 

o  o 

Surveyor,  in  1SG1,  he  was  only  thirty-seven  years  of  age  — 
the  youngest  man  who  had  ever  filled  that  important  and 
responsible  position. 

Since  18G1  Mr.  TAYLOR  served  his  first  term  as  State 
Engineer  and  Surveyor,  and  in  the  fall  of  1SG3  was  again 
nominated  and  elected  for  a  second  term,  being  with  one 


48  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

exception  (that  of  Hoii.  VAN  E.  RICHMOND)  the  only  in- 
cumbent who  has  occupied  that  position  during  two  succes- 
sive terms. 

On  January  1,  1866,  he  vacated  the  office  and  devoted  him- 
self to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  real  estate  in  the  city  of  Utica. 
Mr.  TAYLOR  was  succeeded  for  one  term  by  the  Hon.  J. 
PLATT  GOODSELL,  who  was  followed  by  the  Hon.  VAN  E. 
RICHMOND  again  for  two  terms. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  Mr.  TAYLOR,  by  nomination  and  elec- 
tion, was  again  recalled  to  the  position  of  State  Engineer  and 
Surveyor.  During  the  four  years  he  discharged  the  duties 
of  this  office  as  well  as  in  the  various  public  positions  to 
which  he  has  been  chosen  by  the  citizens  of  Utica,  where  he 
has  resided  since  1829,  he  has  invariably  possessed  the 
entire  confidence  of  every  one,  regardle^  of  party.  Mr. 
TAYLOR  is  now  48  years  of  age,  has  always  enjoyed  robust 
health,  and  is  honored  and  respected  by  all  who  have  been 
associated  with  him  in  private  or  public  business. 

As  an  engineer  Mr.  TAYLOR  has  attained  a  high  rank  and 
is,  probably,  inferior  to  none  in  the  State.  He  possesses 
characteristics  of  mind  particularly  adapted  to  his  profession. 
A  man  of  keen  perceptions,  he  is  quick  to  detect  weak  points 
and  determine  strong  ones.  With  a  mind  of  great  activity 
he  has  the  faculty  of  arriving  at  the  conclusion  of  a  proposi- 
tion before  it  is  half  stated  to  him.  His  social  qualities  are 
of  a  rare  order ;  few  men  have  the  faculty  possessed  by  Mr. 
TAYLOR  of  making  and  retaining  friends.  It  may  be  truly 
said  of  him  that  he  has  a  "genius  for  friendship."  Reliable 
in  his  pledges,  true  to  those  who  confide  in  him,  he  possesses, 
withal,  that  independence  of  character  which  is  one  of  the 
chief  ornaments  of  manhood. 


SENATORS. 


CHARLES  H.   ADAMS. 


The  thirteenth  district,  consisting  of  the  county  of  Albany, 
is  represented  by  CHARLES  H.  ADAMS,  of  Cohoes.  Few,  if 
any,  of  his  colleagues  can  boast  a  more  honorable  ancestry,  or 
one  more  closely  identified  with  the  living  interests  of  the 
republic.  His  maternal  grandfather,  ANTHONY  EGBERTS, 
served  as  an  officer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  his 
father,  HENRY  ADAMS,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812, 
being  engaged  in  his  official  duties  at  the  battle  of  Sackett's 
Harbor.  His  paternal  grandfather,  PETER  C.  ADAMS,  repre- 
sented the  middle  district  in  the  State  Senate  from  1806  to 
1808,  the  compeer  of  CLINTON,  YATES  and  LIVINGSTON.  All 
these  ancestors  were  upright  men,  and  left  to  the  present 
Senator  the  heritage  of  an  unsullied  name. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  at  Coxsackie,  Greene 
county,  in  this  State,  April  10, 1825.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation, and  was  fitted  for  the  active  duties  of  life  at  the 
Albany  Academy,  where  he  graduated  with  credit  to  himself 
and  his  Alma  Mater.  Soon  after,  he  began  to  apply  himself 
to  the  study  of  law,  and  was,  in  due  time,  admitted  to  practice, 
and  entered  upon  his  professional  life  in  the  city  of  New  York. 
Since  1852.  however,  he  has  devoted  himself  chiefly  to 
the  manufacture  of  knit  goods  at  Cohoes,  which  city  is  largely 
indebted  to  his  public  spirit  and  munificence  for  its  present 
prosperity  Before  the  incorporation  of  Cohoes  as  a  city,  he 
served  as  trustee  of  the  village,  and  president  of  the  AVater 


50  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Board.  In  1858  he  was  elected  member  of  Assembly,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term,  a  large  and  enthusiastic  meeting 
of  his  fellow-townsmen  testified  by  various  complimentary 
resolutions,  their  entire  satisfaction  with  his  course. 

In  such  esteem  is  he  held  by  all  citizens,  irrespective  of 
party,  that  although  an  ardent  Republican,  he  was  elected  the 
first  mayor  of  his  adopted  home,  under  the  new  charter,  the 
city  being  at  the  time  largely  Democratic.  He  is,  and  has  been 
for  some  years,  president  of  The  Bank  of  Cohoes.  In  1851 
he  was  aide  on  Governor  HUNT'S  staff,  and  in  1868  a  candi- 
date for  Presidential  elector.  Two  years  ago,  he  was  elected  to 
his  present  position  by  a  majority  of  656,  leading  the  Repub- 
lican State  ticket  by  1,911  votes,  thus  demonstrating  his 
popularity  in  the  most  unmistakable  manner.  Hi  ••rigi- 
nally  belonged  to  the  old  Whig  party,  and  afterward  to  the 
American,  but  is  now  in  full  accord  with  the  Republican 
party. 

This  is  Mr.  ADAMS'  first  term  in  the  Senate ;  yet  thus 
early  he  has  shown  that  he  possesses,  in  a  rare  degree,  that 
gravity,  lofty  sense  of  honor,  and  keen  perception  of  the 
people's  wants,  which  are  the  distinctive  traits  of  the  true 
legislator.  His  wealth  is  amply  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
give  his  undivided  attention  to  the  duties  and  requirements 
of  his  office.  Strenuously  opposed  to  all  rings,  and  all  jobs 
under  whatever  guise  they  may  appear,  his  vote  and  influence 
have  thus  far  been  employed  only  to  subserve  the  best  inter- 
ests of  his  constituency  and  the  State  at  large.  In  the  Sena- 
torial body,  Mr.  ADAMS  is  emphatically  a  practical  working 
member.  His  strong  common  sense  and  thorough  familiarity 
with  matters  of  finance,  manufactures  and  internal  improve- 
ments, peculiarly  adapt  him  for  committee  work;  and  his 
presence  on  six  important  committees,  of  two  of  which  he  is 
chairman,  testifies  the  appreciation,  by  his  colleagues,  of  his 
large  and  varied  abilities.  His  strength  does  not  lie  in 
finesse  or  political  diplomacy  of  doubtful  repute,  nor  does  he 
ever  engross  valuable  time  in  wearisome,  unnecessary  debate. 


NORMAN  M.  ALLEN.  51 

He  seldom  indulges  in  speech-making,  but  accomplishes  quite 
as  much  of  the  public  business  by  his  advice  and  counsel, 
as  some  who  are  favored  with  greater  powers  of  declamation. 
Last  fall  the  Senator  ran  for  Congress  in  the  strongly  Demo- 
cratic 14th  District.  Although  he  was  beaten,  yet  a  com- 
parison of  votes  shows  that  he  received  the  largest  vote  ever 
cast  in  that  district  for  a  Republican  Congressman. 


NORMAN  M.  ALLEN. 


The  thirty-second  senatorial  district,  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Cattaraugus  and  Chautauqua,  is  represented  by 
NORMAX  M.  ALLEX,  who  was  born  at  Dayton,  Cattaraugus 
county,  on  the  24th  of  December,  1828.  His  father,  LUTHER 
ALLEX,  and  his  mother,  HULDAH  BENEDICT  ALLEX,  were 
both  born  at  Fabius,  Onondaga  county,  and  are  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  wras  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  and  is  a,  "self-made"  man,  one  who  has  fought  his 
way  to  success  in  the  world  by  force  of  his  own  talents  and 
industry,  and  without  adventitious  aids.  Cast  upon  his  un- 
aided individual  resources,  while  yet  a  mere  boy,  lie  learned,  per 
force,  that  lesson  which  the  wise  man  commended  —  to  bear 
the  yoke  in  youth.  NORMAX'S  education,  that  is  to  say,  the 
first  rudiments  of  it,  was  acquired  in  the  common  school  of 
his  native  place,  and  such  advantages  as  offered  were  im- 
proved by  the  lad  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  The  years 
immediately  succeeding  the  death  of  his  parents  he  devoted 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  but.  finding  that  the  farm  was  not 
altogether  to  his  liking,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  law 
with  all  diligence.  It  was  not  long  before  he  was  admitted 
to  practice,  and  in  the  law,  which  has  been  the  profession 
of  his  life,  he  has  been  rewarded  by  a  large  measure  of 
success. 

In  1848,  Mr.  ALLEX  was  married  to  HULDAH  MERRILL. 
He  has  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  married. 


52  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

During  the  late  war,  he  was  appointed  paymaster  by  Pres- 
ident LINCOLN",  and  was  in  service  in  that  capacity  for  a 
short  time  in  18G3.  He  resigned  his  position  to  accept  the 
appointment  of  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  for  the  thirty-first 
district  of  New  York. 

The  main  facts  in  the  Senator's  political  history  are  as  fol- 
lows :  From  the  time  of  his  first  becoming  a  voter  until  the 
year  1854,  he  was  a  zealous  member  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but  since  the  date  last  mentioned  he  has  been  an  uncom- 
promising and  unwavering  Eepublican.  For  thirteen  suc- 
cessive years,  he  was  Supervisor  at  Dayton,  and  for  ten  years 
of  that  time  was  chairman  of  the  board  —  facts  which  speak 
volumes  for  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  neighbors 
and  the  citizens  of  Cattaraugus  county.  He  has  also  filled 
the  office  of  school  commissioner ;  has  served  a  term  of 
four  years  as  State  assessor,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Conven- 
tion, containing  so  many  distinguished  men,  which  met  in 
1867.  to  revise  the  Constitution  of  the  State. 

The  present  is  not  the  Senator's  first  experience  in  legisla- 
tive life.  He  was  a  member  of  the  preceding  Senate  in 
1864-5,  and  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Literature, 
Indian  Affairs,  and  Towns  and  Counties  in  that  body.  He 
was  elected  to  the  present  Senate  by  the  handsome  majority 
of  4,276.  He  is  a  legislator  of  the  practical  school,  never 
asking  for  the  attention  of  his  fellow-members  unless  he  has 
something  to  say,  never  thinking  to  be  heard  for  his  "much 
speaking."  The  thirty-second  district  never  was  represented 
by  a  more  faithful  or  conscientious  Senator,  or  one  more 
devoted  to  its  interests  than  JSTc-RMAN  M!  ALLEN". 

In  the  late  presidential  election  Senator  ALLEN  cast  his 
vote  for  HORACE  GREELEY.  The  choice,  in  his  judgment. 
was  simply  between  two  Republicans,  and  therefore  he  felt 
free  to  follow  his  individual  dictates.  Hud  the  issue  been 
made  up  between  General  GRANT  and  an  opponent  not  a 
Republican,  he,  as  in  political  duty  bound,  would  have  given 
GRANT  his  vote  and  influence. 


SAMUEL  AMES.  53 


SAMUEL  AMES. 


The  sixteenth  senatorial  district  consists  of  the  counties 
of  Clinton,  Essex  and  "VVarren.  The  Senator  is  SAMUEL 
AMES,  who  was  born  at  Champlain,  Clinton  county,  June 
29th,  1824.  His  father,  CHAKLES  AMES,  was  a  native  of 
Bridgewater,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born  near  the 
close  of  the  last  century.  The  senator  is  a  remote  descend- 
ant of  JOHN  AMES,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Briton, 
Somersetshire,  England,  and  settled  in  Braintree,  Massa- 
chusetts, as  far  back  as  1640. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  the  Champlain 
and  Keeseville  academies,  which  he  attended  until  he  was 
twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  left  school,  and  began  the 
study  of  law.  Entering  the  office  of  GEOKGE  A.  SIMMONS 
as  a  student,  he  subsequently  formed  a  copartnership  in  law 
with  that  gentleman,  which  continued  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  SIMMONS.  Mr.  AMES  has  had  a  successful  professional 
career ;  his  talents  and  industry  being  rewarded  by  a  large 
and  remunerative  practice.  At  the  present  time,  having 
withdrawn  from  the  legal  field,  he  is  engaged  in  the  business 
of  banking. 

The  record  of  Mr.  AMES'  political  life  is,  in  one  respect, 
that  of  many  other  of  our  public  men  with  whom  he 
sympathises  politically.  That  is  to  say,  he  was  a  Whig 
until  the  formation  of  the  Eepublican  party,  and  ever  since 
lias  been  an  active  member  of  that  organization.  He  has 
served  several  terms  as  supervisor  'of  his  town ;  in  1865  was 
appointed  commissioner  of  patents,  and.  subsequently,  having 
resigned  the  commissionership,  was  made  register  of  bank- 
ruptcy, an  office  which  he  now  holds. 

In  the  election,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  which  resulted  in  his 
elevation  to  the  Senate,  his  popularity  in  the  sixteenth  dis- 


54  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

trict  was  demonstrated  in  the  most  unmistakable  manner. 
He  ran  550  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket,  receiving  a  majority  of 
2)232.  In  1869,  the  adverse  majority  was  2,066.  Soon  after 
the  commencement  of  his  senatorial  term,  Mr.  AMES  was 
stricken  down  with  a  painful  and  dangerous  illness,  which 
has  since  prevented  him,  save  at  intervals,  from  actively 
engaging  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Early  last 
session,  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  on  account  of  impaired 
health,  and  this  year,  no  sooner  had  he  reached  the  Senate 
than  a  return  of  his  old  complaint  necessitated  his  imme- 
diate return  to  his  home. 

In  184-9,  Mr.  AMES  was  married  to  Miss  THOMPSON,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  ANDREW  THOMPSON,  a  banker,  who 
was  for  many  years  well  known  in  northern  Xew  York.  Of 
large  ability,  and  the  highest  purity,  personally  strong  and 
popular,  Senator  AMES  is  a  man  whose  absence  from  the 
Senate  is  the  cause  of  the  unfeigned  regret  of  his  fellow- 
senators.  An  earnest  wish  for  his  speedy  restoration  to 
health  goes  up  from  many  hearts. 


ISAAC  V.  BAKER,  JE. 


Remembering  that  the  word  "senator"  is  derived  from  the 
Latin  senex,  which  is,  by  interpretation,  an  old  man,  it  seems 
an  anomaly  to  designate  the  gentleman  who  represents  the 
fifth  senatorial  district  as  senator,  seeing  that  as  yet  he  is  in 
the  very  bloom  of  his  youth. 

Mr.  BAKER  was  born  August  15,  1843.  at  Comstock's 
Landing,  Washington  county,  X.  Y.,  a  place  founded  by 
his  maternal  grandfather,  PETER  COMSTOCK,  well  known 
throughout  northern  Xew  York  as  an  energetic,  go-ahead 
business  man,  who  took  the  first  raft  through  the  Cham- 
plain  canal,  and  was  largely  engaged  in  the  forwarding  and 


ISAAC  V.  BAKER,  JR.  55 

transportation  business  for  many  years,  in  connection  with 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

ISAAC  V.  BAKER,  Sr.,  long  and  favorably  known  as  a 
leading  railroad  man,  and  now  president  of  the  New  York 
and  Canada  railroad,  formerly  owned  and  ran  a  line  of 
packets  on  the  Champlain  canal,  also  the  canal  boats  com- 
prising the  northern  transportation  line,  together  with  the 
old  Redbird  line  of  stages  running  from  Montreal  to  New 
York. 

Mr.  BAKEK,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  inherits  the 
energy,  enterprise  and  business  qualifications  of  his  father 
and  grandfather  in  a  great  degree,  and  has,  at  his  early  age, 
acquired  a  reputation  for  himself  enjoyed  by  few  men  of 
more  mature  years.  His  first  school  days  were  passed  in 
the  North  Granville  Academy  and  in  the  Brooklyn  Poly- 
technic and  Collegiate  Institute.  He  there  obtained  a  fair 
classical  education.  He  started  in  business,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  as  a  merchant,  in  his  native  town,  and  retains 
his  interest  in  the  business  at  the  present  date.  He  early 
interested  himself  in  agriculture,  and  especially  in  breeding 
Merino  sheep,  in  which  branch  of  trade  BAKER  &  HARRI- 
GAX  have  acquired  a  national  reputation,  selling  choice 
specimens  of  their  flock  into  nearly  every  State  in  the 
Union,  and  also  Australia.  Mr.  BAKER  has  been  secretary 
of  the  Washington  County  Sheep  Breeders  and  Wool  Grow- 
ers' Association  since  its  organization,  some  five  years,  and 
served  a  term  as  president  of  the  Washington  County  Agricul- 
tural Society.  At  present  he  is  actively  engaged  in  railroading, 
occupying  the  position  of  general  financier  for  the  consoli- 
dated railroads  which  are  operated  by  the  Delaware  and 
Hudson  canal  company.  The  lines  reach  from  Bingham- 
ton  to  Rutland,  and  embrace  many  branches  in  addition  to 
the  main  line.  He  was  nominated  for  member  of  Assembly 
in  18G8,  wlu-n  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  elected  by 
the  largest  majority  ever  given  in  that  district,  running  over 
three  hundred  ahead  of  the  State  ticket.  He  served,  in  the 


56  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Assembly  of  1869,  on  the  Railroad  committee,  also  on  the 
special  gas  investigating  committee,  taking  good  rank  in  the 
House.  Many  bills  important  to  his  district  were  passed 
through  his  exertions.  So  well  pleased  were  his  constituents 
with  his  course  that  they  awarded  him  a  second  and  a  third 
term  in  the  Assembly,  renominating  him  in  1869  and  1870 
by  acclamation.  In  the  Assembly  of  1870  he  was  a  member 
of  the  committee  on  Canals  and  Civil  Divisions,  and  in  1871 
a  leading  member  on  that  of  Railroads. 

Having  thus  served  in  the  lower  house  for  three  years, 
and  added  to  the  qualities  which  originally  commended  him 
to  the  public,  faithful  service  and  valuable  experience,  his  con- 
stituents would  seem  to  have  said  to  him,  in  the  language  of 
the  scriptures,  "  friend,  go  up  higher."  He  was  nominated  to 
the  position  which  he  now  holds,  in  the  same  hearty  style 
with  which  he  had  been  named  for  the  Assembly  —  by  accla- 
mation. In  the  election  which  followed,  a  compliment  was 
paid  him  of  the  rarest  and  most  flattering  character.  He 
actually  received  every  vote  but  one  in  his  own  election  dis- 
trict (which  is  about  evenly  divided  politically),  and  that 
one  was  cast  by  an  individual  who  had  been  arrested  on  the 
complaint  of  Mr.  BAKER,  or  one  of  his  family,  some 
time  previous.  The  Senator  ran  2.250  ahead  of  his  ticket, 
carrying  every  toAvn  in  Washington  county.  His  majority 
was  4.458. 

Senator  BAKER  never  troubles  the  Senate  with  long  set 
speeches,  full  of  sound,  but  signifying  nothing.  When  he 
does  take  the  floor,  he  goes  directly  to  the  point  which 
induced  him  to  rise.  He  is  a  hard  worker  in  the  committees, 
and  in  every  contest  of  the  people  with  corruption,  is  found 
on  the  right  side.  Few  young  men  have  so  fair  a  future 
before  them  as  that  which,  seemingly,  awaits  Senator  BAKEE. 


ERASTUS  C.  BENEDICT.  57 


ERASTUS  C.  BENEDICT. 


The  fifth  senatorial  district  is  represented  by  ERASTUS 
CORNELIUS  BENEDICT.  He  was  born  at  Branford,  Connect- 
icut, March  19th,  1800.  In  early  life  he  had  some  experi- 
ence in  school  teaching,  commencing  in  a  common  school  in 
1816,  and  ending  as  a  tutor  in  Williams  College  in  1824.  He 
entered  the  sophomore  class  in  September,  1816,  and  grad- 
uated in  1821,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  academy  in  Johns- 
town; he  subsequently  taught  in  the  academy  in  Newburgh. 
As  tutor  in  college,  he  instructed  the  class  of  1825,  during 
their  junior  year,  and  the  class  of  1826,  during  their  sopho- 
more year.  His  professional  studies  completed,  at  the  end  of 
the  year  1824,  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  the  law,  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  has  ever  since  been,  and  is 
now,  a  successful  practitioner.  When  the  common  school 
system  was  extended  to  the  city  of  New  York,  he  was  chosen 
among  the  first  trustees  of  common  schools,  and,  subse- 
quently, in  1850,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation for  the  city,  of  which  board  he  was  president  for 
several  years.  He  resigned  his  office,  as  member  of  the 
board  of  education,  in  1863,  not,  however,  until  he  was  gen- 
erally recognized  as  among  the  first  who  were  instrumental 
in  consolidating  and  maturing  the  entire  school  system  of 
New  York.  The  great  value  of  the  services  he  rendered  — 
co-operating  with  like-minded  men — in  rearing  the  Free 
Academy,  now  the  College  of  New  York,  are  widely  recog- 
nized and  appreciated.  He  was  among  the  select  number 
who  confessedly  laid  the  foundations  of  the  Areopagus,  and 
royal  line  of  college  advantages  for  the  masses  in  the  city  of 
New  York.  In  1855,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  a 
regent  of  the  University,  which  office  he  still  holds.  In  1840, 
he  was  elected  a  member' of  the  Common  Council  of  the  city 


58  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

of  New  York.     In  1848,  he  was  a  member  of  the  lower  house 
of  the  State  Legislature,  as,  also,  in  1864. 

In  the  Assembly  of  1848,  he  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee on  colleges,  academies  and  common  schools,  and 
incorporation  of  cities  and  villages  ;  he  was  also  chairman  of 
the  select  committee  which  reported  the  general  railroad  law 
passed  during  that  session,  and  wrote  the  report ;  was  actire 
in  securing  the  passage  of  the  law  giving  married  women  the 
control  of  their  property,  and  also  the  act  to  simplify,  etc., 
the  practice  of  the  acts  known  as  "  The  Code."  In  1864,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  committees  on  colleges  and  federal 
relations ;  reported,  and  actively  promoted  the  passage  of  the 
act  to  revise  and  consolidate  the  general  acts  relating  to  pub- 
lic instruction,  and  also  the  act  relative  to  common  schools 
in  the  city  of  New  York.  He  is  an  elder  in  the  Reformed 
Church,  and  was  a  member  of  the  general  synod  of  1868. 
Mr.  BENEDICT  is  the  author  of  the  "  American  Admiralty ;  " 
"  A  Run  Through  Europe,"  a  book  of  travels  of  which  a  third 
edition  was  published  in  1868 ;  the  Hymn  of  Hildebert,  and 
other  mediaeval  hymns,  with  translations ;  of  various  pam- 
phlets, reviews,  speeches  and  addresses  on  literary,  religious, 
and  political  subjects,  published  at  various  times  during  the 
past  thirty  years,  including  the  "  Beginning  of  America,"  the 
anniversary  discourse  before  the  New  York  Historical  Society, 
in  1863.  In  1840,  he  delivered  the  anniversary  address  before 
the  society  of  alumni,  of  Williams  college,  in  which  institu* 
tion  he  has  established  several  prizes.  The  degree  of  LL.  D., 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  Rutgers  college,  in  1865.  He 
has,  for  the  past  twenty-eight  years,  been  a  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  New  York  Historical  Society; 
has  been  a  trustee  of  Williams  college,  since  1855 ;  a  man- 
ager of  the  New  York  association  to  improve  the  condition 
of  the  poor,  since  its  organization  in  1848;  and  a  manager 
of  the  American  Art  Union  while  it  existed.  He  has  also 
been  one  of  the  governors  of  the  State  Woman's  Hospital, 
since  that  institution  was  incorporated. 


GEORGE  Bo  WEN.  59 

Mr.  BENEDICT  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  majority  of 
4,842  over  MICHAEL  NORTON,  who  had  been  chosen  to  the 
preceding  Senate  by  a  majority  of  over  500.  He  is  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  on  Literature,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Committees  on  Cities,  Militia,  Engrossed  Bills,  and  Joint 
Library.  He  is  a  ready  and  fluent  debater,  erer  vigilant  for 
the  public  weal,  and  especially  devoted  to  the  great  metropo- 
lis which  he  has  loved  so  long  and  so  well. 


GEORGE  BOWEN. 


Mr.  BOWEN  represents  the  twenty-ninth  Senatorial  dis- 
trict, which  is  composed  of  the  counties  of  Niagara,  Orleans 
and  Genesee.  He  is  in  the  prime  of  life ;  just  that  age 
when  the  maturity  of  thought  and  the  vigor  of  youth  blend 
most  effectively.  He  was  born  at  Shelby,  Orleans  county, 
N.  Y.,  September  28th,  1831.  His  mother's  maiden  name 
was  ANNA  CONE  ;  and  his  father  was  Dr.  ABIEL  BOWEN, 
who,  in  his  earlier  years,  was  a  practising  physician,  but  for 
the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  a  farmer. 

Until  Mr.  BOWEN  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  he  enjoyed 
only  the  educational  advantages  of  the  common  school. 
After  that  time,  he  attended  the  Millville  academy,  in 
Orleans  county,  and  the  Gary  Collegiate  Institute  in  Genesee 
county.  He  also  taught  school  a  couple  of  winters.  But 
his  chief  aim  was  to  adopt  the  practice  of  the  law  for  his 
profession  ;  and  with  this  end  in  view,  he  studied  with  Hon. 
JOHN  H.  MARTJNDALE.  Hon.  SETII  WAKEMAN,  and  WIL- 
LIAM G.  BRYAN,  at  Batavia.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
December,  1852,  at  Rochester,  and,  it  is  curious  to  note, 
among  his  examiners  on  that  occasion  was  Hon.  JAMES 
WOOD,  then  district-attorney  of  Livingston  county,  and  now 

v  O  »/    -' 

a  member  of  the  same  Senate  in   which   Mr.  BOWEN  sits. 


60  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Four  years  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  his  legal  abilities 
received  recognition  from  the  Republican  party  by  an  election 
to  the  office  of  district-attorney  for  Genesee  county.  In 
1862  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Batavia,  by  President 
LINCOLN,  and  remained  in  that  capacity  for  four  years. 

In  Batavia,  Mr.  BOWEN  is  recognized  as  a  first-class  busi- 
ness man.  He  is  a  Director  of  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Batavia,  and  President  of  the  Holland  Purchase  Insurance 
Company.  He  is  also  a  Trustee  of  the  State  Institution  for 
the  Blind,  at  Batavia  —  having  been  appointed  to  this  posi- 
tion of  trust  by  Governor  HOFFMAN —  and  is  Chairman  of  its 
Executive  committee.  The  tenure  of  these  places  of  responsi- 
bility and  prominence  by  Mr.  BOWEN,  bespeaks  the  full  con- 
fidence reposed  in  him  by  such  of  his  fellow-citizens  as  knew 
him  best. 

In  1869  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate,  when,  by  reason  of 
the  party  to  which  he  belongs  being  in  the  minority,  there 
was  not  that  opportunity  for  him  to  do  justice  to  himself, 
which  has  been  afforded  him  in  the  present  Senate.  Never- 
theless, he  exhibited  such  a  wide-awake  attention  to  the 
wants  of  his  constituents,  and  to  the  general  welfare  of  the 
State,  that  he  was  renominated  with  enthusiasm  and  elected 
by  a  larger  vote  than  he  received  at  first.  Charges,  impeach- 
ing his  integrity,  were  made  by  certain  parties,  during  the 
canvass,  with  a  view  to  defeat  him,  and  a  mass  meeting  was 
called  at  Albion  to  nominate  a  Republican  candidate  against 
him.  But  the  Senator,  in  "A  card  to  the  electors  of  the 
Twenty- Ninth  Senatorial  District,"  so  answered  and  disposed 
of  the  charges  aimed  at  him,  and  placed  their  author  in  such  a 
bad  light  by  laying  bare  the  animus  that  inspired  the  attacks, 
that  the  opposition  convention  proved  weak  and  harmless,  and 
without  appreciable  adverse  effect  on  Senator  Bo"V\"EX?s  candi- 
dacy. He  was  elected  in  1869  by  a  vote  of  2,096,  and  was  re- 
elected  by  2.692.  In  the  last  Senate,  Senator  BOWEX  was  a 
member  of  the  committees  on  Claims.  Villages  and  Printing, 
and  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole.  In  the  present  Senate, 


THOMAS  J.  CHATFIELD.  61 

he  is  chairman  of1  three  important  committees  —  Claims 
Printing  and  the  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole,  better  known 
as  the  "  grinding  committee,"  and  is  a  member  of  the  Judici- 
ary, Literature  and  Villages  committees.  No  constituency, 
we  venture  to  say,  ever  had  a  more  faithful  representative. 
Mr.  BOWEN  has  an  eminently  legal  mind,  and  speaks  with  so 
much  clearness,  force  and  fluency  as  always  to  command 
attention. 


THOMAS  J.   CHATFIELD. 


THOMAS  J.  CHATFIELD,  who  represents  the  twenty-fourth 
Senatorial  district,  was  born  in  Great  Harrington,  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  September  16th,  1818.  His  father, 
JOHN"  CHATFIELD,  came  from  Oxford,  Connecticut,  where  he 
was  born  in  1792.  He  held  the  rank  of  Major  in  the  old 
Massachusetts  militia,  and  died  in  Owego,  Tioga  Co.,  JST.  Y., 
the  residence  of  the  Senator  in  the  summer  of  1865. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  a  good  substantial 
education  in  the  comnnon  schools  of  Great  Harrington,  and 
still  holds  pleasant  remembrances  of  the  old  central  school 
house,  of  which  he  was  an  inmate  for  a  number  of  terms. 
While  he  was  yet  a  boy,  the  military  spirit  which  he  inherited 
from  his  father,  induced  him  to  organize  and  command  a 
military  company  composed  entirely  of  young  lads.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  he  laid  aside  his  school  books,  and 
at  once  embarked  in  active  business.  The  virtue  of  per- 
severance has  been  strikingly  illustrated  in  the  Senator's  long 
and  successful  career  as  a  merchant.  Beginning  his  business 
life  as  a  grocer,  a  grocer  he  has  remained  ever  since,  finding  in 
the  steady  and  industrious  pursuit  of  that  branch  of  trade  a 
large  measure  of  prosperity.  He  has  carried  on  business  in 
the  town  of  Owego  in  which  he  now  resides,  for  the  past 
thirty-four  years. 


62  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  CHATFIELD  has  often  been  honored  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens with  that  distinguished  mark  of  confidence  —  election 
to  office.  He  has  filled  a  number  of  responsible  positions, 
and  has  always  acquitted  himself  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
those  whom  he  has  represented,  and  to  his  own  great  credit. 
He  has  been  Supervisor  of  his  town,  and  Trustee  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  village.  In  1852  he  was  selected  to  represent 
the  county  of  Tioga  in  the  Assembly.  In  the  year  1868  he 
was  a  delegate  to  the  memorable  Eepublican  National  Con- 
vention at  Chicago,  which  called  together  such  an  array  of 
distinguished  men,  and  which  nominated  General  GRANT  for 
the  presidency.  Mr.  CHATFIELD  is,  and  has  been  since  the 
formation  of  the  Republican  party,  an  ardent  and  uncompro- 
mising Eepublican.  In  the  politics  of  the  long  past  he  was 
a  Whig.  He  was  nominated  to  the  position  which  he  now 
holds,  under  circumstances  peculiarly  gratifying.  In  a 
district  where  three  such  sterling  men  as  Messrs.  CHATFIELD, 
SELKREG  and  CHAPMAX  were  pressed  for  nomination,  as 
was  the  case  in  the  twenty-fourth  senatorial  district,  when 
last  its  nominating  convention  met  to  name  a  Senator,  it  was 
impossible  to  go  amiss,  and  very  easy  for  each  one  of  the 
three  to  be  defeated  because  of  the  excellencies  of  his  com- 
petitors. In  choosing  Mr.  CHATFIELD,  the  convention 
stamped  him  as  one  of  the  most  honored  and  successful 
Republicans  in  the  southern  tier  of  counties.  Two  years 
previous  to  his  election  to  the  Senate,  such  was  his  popularity 
throughout  the  State  that  the  position  of  Treasurer  was 
given  to  him  on  the  State  ticket. 

He  was  elected  Senator  by  a  majority  of  4,169.  He  brings 
to  the  duties  of  his  office  sound  judgment,  large  capacity  for 
public  affairs  and  incorruptible  integrity.  He  is  Chairman 
of  two  committees,  Roads  and  Bridges,  and  Grievances; 
and  is  a  member  of  the  committees  on  Canals  and  Public 
health. 


TOWNSEND  D.  COCK.  63 


TOWNSEND  D.  COCK. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  represents  the  first  Sena- 
torial District  of  the  State,  comprising  the  counties  of  Suf- 
folk, Queens  and  Richmond,  was  born  December  3,  1838, 
at  Locust  Valley,  Queens  county,  upon  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides,  which  has  been  in  the  possession  of  his  ances- 
tors from  the  first  settlement  of  the  country.  His  ancestors 
were  Quakers,  and  he  was  educated  in  their  religious  faith. 
The  writer  of  the  "  Townsend  Memorial"  aflirms  that  be  is 
descended  in  ten  different  ways  from  the  three  TOWXSEXD 
brothers  who  emigrated  from  England  and  settled  upon 
Long  Island. 

He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  intended  to 
avail  himself  of  the  advantages  of  a  collegiate  course,  with 
a  view  of  adopting  the  legal  profession,  but  his  health  fail- 
ing him,  he  was  reluctantly  compelled  to  abandon  the  inten- 
tion he  had  thus  formed. 

Soon  after  attaining  his  majority  he  was  urged  by  numer- 
ous friends  to  permit  his  name  to  be  used  in  connection  with 
the  position  of  representative  from  his  Assembly  district,  in 
the  Legislature,  which  he  declined.  In  1863  and  1864  he 
was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  Queens  County  Agricultural 
Society,  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  successful  organiza- 
tions devoted  to  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  Agricul- 
ture in  this  State.  In  1867  he  was  chosen  Supervisor  of  his 
town,  serving  in  that  capacity  for  five  years,  being  elected 
the  last  year  without  opposition,  and  honored  with  the  Chair- 
manship of  the  Board  in  1870. 

In  the  summer  of  1871  his  name  was  brought  forward  by 
his  friends  as  a  candidate  for  the  position  he  now  holds.  After 
a  severe  and  prolonged  contest  in  the  Senatorial  Convention 
he  received  the  nomination  and  immediatelv  entered  earnestlv 


64  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

upon  the  canvass.  A  strong  and  powerful  influence  was 
brought  to  bear  against  him,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
money,  which,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  his  opponent  was 
an  active  and  industrious  worker,  rendered  the  canvass  an 
exciting  one,  but  Mr.  COCK  was  successful  and  secured  his 
election  by  eight  hundred  and  sixty-eight  majority.  A  large 
number  of  representative  Eepublicans  throughout  the  Dis- 
trict gave  him  their  warm  and  earnest  support. 

In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  invited  to  deliver  the  annual 
address  before  the  Eockland  County  Agricultural  Society  at 
their  exhibition,  which  invitation  was  accepted.  We  subjoin 
the  following  extract  from  the  same  as  an  illustration  of  his 
style :  "  So  also  would  I  urge  upon  you  as  farmers  to  beautify 
and  to  adorn  your  homes  as  the  best  means  of  instilling  in  the 
minds  of  your  children  a  love  of,  and  admiration  for,  the 
useful,  the  noble,  the  beautiful  and  the  good.  In  proportion 
as  you  make  your  habitations  inviting  and  pleasing,  you 
bind  the  boy  just  budding  into  usefulness  and  about  to  draw 
around  him  the  drapery  of  manhood  with  indissoluble  ties 
to  the  genial  moral  atmosphere  of  country  life.  That  home 
which  is  devoid  of  the  presence  of  flowers,  whose  possessor 
manifests  no  taste  nor  inclination  to  beautify  it,  and  to 
impart  to  it  an  interest,  by  planting  a  shrub  here,  or  a  tree 
there,  becomes  but  a  sphere  of  drudgery  and  toil,  upon  which 
the  young  candidate  for  the  honors  of  the  farm  looks  with 
supreme  disgust,  rather  than  as  a  spot  upon  which  he  can 
center  his  affections  and  lavish  his  unoccupied  time,  in  em- 
bellishing it  with  whatever  his  tastes  might  suggest.  That 
habitation  becomes  in  his  eyes  a  field  where  the  golden  hours 
of  his  youth  must  be  spent  in  the  oftentimes  vain  endeavors 
to  gain  a  competency  ;  as  a  sphere  of  operation  where  he  must 
engage  in  the  stern  struggle  of  life,  with  but  little  prospect 
of  a  decisive  victory;  and.,  in  the  absence  of  those  pleasant 
objects  upon  which  he  might  bestow  his  attentions,  when 
released  from  the  severer  exactions  of  the  farm,  he  becomes 
disheartened  and  dispirited,  and  the  duties  of  his  pursuit 


S  *S'.  DICKINSON.  65 

become  irksome  and  disagreeable.  Without  any  elaborate 
argument  upon  this  point,  which  time  will  not  permit,  allow 
me  to  urge  upon  you  as  a  part  of  your  duties,  the  necessity 
for  the  more  general  embellishment  of  your  homes.  Make 
them  reflect  in  their  surroundings  that  purity  which  is 
inseparable  from  country  life ;  make  them  spots  that  you  and 
your  children  will  love  ;  make  them,  by  the  exercise  of  judi- 
cious taste  and  right  management,  the  abodes  of  unques- 
tioned happiness  and  genuine  enjoyment.  Plant  there  the 
purest  flowers,  fitting  types,  appropriate  representatives  of 
that  spirit  which  should  lead  you  upward  to  the  habitations 
of  the  good;  dedicate  that  home  to  truth,  to  love,  to  justice, 
and  to  right." 

Mr.  COCK  is  a  member  of  the  following  important  stand- 
ing committees :  Railroads,  Roads  and  Bridges,  and  Internal 
Affairs  of  Towns  and  Counties.  Not  often  addressing  the 
Senate,  and  never  needlessly,  he  is  ever  vigilant  for  the  inter- 
ests committed  to  his  hands,  and  can  retire  at  the  end  of  his 
term  with  the  consciousness  that  he  has  left  nothing  undone, 
within  his  ability,  that  would  promote  the  welfare  of  the  first 
Senatorial  District. 


WELLS   S.   DICKINSON. 


The  seventeenth  Senatorial  district,  comprising  the  coun- 
ties of  Franklin  and  St.  Lawrence,  is  represented  by  WELLS 
S.  DICKINSON,  of  Franklin,  lie  conies  from  a  section  of  the 
Empire  State  which  has  always  been  in  the  van  of  liberal 
and  progressive  ideas,  a  section  proud  of  its  PKESTON  KING, 
its  Si i. AS  WRIGHT,  and  which  has  produced  many  sons  who 
have  been  potent  in  shaping  the  policy  of  State  and  nation. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Bangor,  Franklin 
county,  where  he  still  resides,  in  the  year  18'-27.  and  is  of  gen- 
uine American  descent.  After  receiving  the  rudiments  of 


66  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

his  education  at  a  common  school,  he  entered  the  Franklin 
academy  in  his  native  county,  where  he  remained  two  years. 
He  then,  in  the  year  1846,  laid  aside  his  books,  and  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits  with  his  father,  whom  he  joined  as  partner 
in  1850.  In  1851  he  took  to  himself  a  wife,  marrying  Miss 
THUSA  FISH.  In  1853  he  bought  out  his  father's  interest  in 
the  business  and  associated  Mr.  A.  C.  PATTERSON  with  him- 
self. The  copartnership  thus  formed  continued  until  the 
year  1865,  when  he  also  admitted  Mr.  CHARLES  WHITNEY 
into  the  firm,  and  carried  on  business  under  the  name  of 
PATTERSON,  WHITNEY  &  Co.  In  1857  Mr.  WHITNEY  went 
out  of  the  concern  and  Mr.  DICKINSON'S  brother  took  his 
place.  During  all  this  time,  however,  Mr.  DICKINSON  had 
devoted  himself  chiefly  to  his  private  and  individual  business, 
the  manufacture  of  potato  starch  and  speculation  in  starch, 
hops,  etc.  In  addition  to  the  pursuits,  thus  indicated,  Mr. 
DICKINSON  ran  for  some  years  extensive  grist  and  saw  mills, 
of  which  he  was  the  owner,  and  had  business  interests  at  Red 
Wing,  Minnesota,  as  member  of  the  firm  of  SMITH,  MEIGS 
&  Co. 

Thus  much  for  the  Senator's  business  history,  and  now  a 
glance  at  his  public  and  political  life.  In  politics  he  was 
formerly  a  Whig,  but  now  is  and  has  been  for  years  an  active 
and  ardent  Republican.  His  personal  popularity  at  home  is 
shown  in  the  fact  that  for  three  successive  years,  1857-8-0, 
he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  his  native  town.  In  1850  the 
Legislature  of  Xew  York  appointed  him  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners to  whom  was  intrusted  the  settlement  of  the  claim 
and  damages  arising  on  the  contract  between  the  State  and 
J.  D.  KINGSLAND  relative  to  convict  labor. 

Senator  DICKINSON  began  his  legislative  career  some  years 
ago.  In  1860  he  represented  the  county  of  Franklin  in  the 
Assembly  in  a  manner  at  once  creditable  to  himself  and  sat 
isfactory  to  his  constituents.  He  was  a  member  of  one  of 
the  most  important  committees  in  the  House,  that  on  Rail- 
road?. In  1864  ho  was  a  delegate  to  the  memorable  Republi- 


WILLIAM  FOSTER.  6? 

can  national  convention  which  met  at  Baltimore  and  renom 
inated  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  for  the  Presidency. 

Senator  DICKINSON  was  nominated  by  acclamation  for  the 
position  which  he  now  holds.  He  was  the  unanimous  choice 
of  Franklin  county  and  acceptable  to  the  entire  district. 
Two  years  previous,  when  his  name  had  been  presented  by 
his  county,  the  convention  paid  him  the  marked  compliment 
of  passing  a  resolution  recognizing  him  as  "  an  upright  and 
patriotic  citizen,  a  reliable  and  active  Eepublican,  and  one 
whom  the  people  of  the  seventeenth  district  hold  in  high 
respect."  He  entered  actively  into  the  campaign  and  was 
elected  by  the  handsome  majority  of  6.925.  He  is  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Villages  and  Indian  affairs,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committees  on  Claims,  Roads  and  Bridges  and  State 
Prisons. 

As  a  politician  Mr.  DICKINSON  has  an  honorable  reputa- 
tion, and  his  course  since  he  has  been  Senator  has  been  such 
as  to  justly  entitle  him  to  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
constituents. 


WILLIAM  FOSTER. 


WILLIAM  FOSTER  of  Cleveland,  Oswego  county,  represents 
the  twenty-first  Senatorial  district,  composed  of  the  counties 
of  Oswego  and  Madison.  For  many  years  this  district  was 
one  of  the  Gibraltars  of  the  Democracy  —  '-'old  Oswego'' 
being  one  of  their  most  reliable  strongholds.  But  this  state 
of  tilings  has  been  changed,  and  now  the  twenty-first  district 
under  ordinary  circumstances  is  conceded  to  the  Republicans. 

The  subject,  of  the  present  sketch  was  born  in  Leuham, 
Kent  county,  England,  on  the  2?th  clay  of  December,  1813. 
Both  his  parents  were  of  Scotch  extraction.  He  received  a 
good  substantial  education,  attending  the  academy  at  Maid- 
stone  in  liis  native  countv,  and  also  one  at  Hiirstmonaux 


68  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

in  Sussex,  which  bounds  Kent  on  the  south.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  emigrated  from  "merrie  old  England,"  and 
sailed  for  this  country.  The  year  1830  found  him  settled  on 
the  Oneida  Lake,  getting  his  living  by  clerking  it.  As  a 
clerk  he  remained  for  five  years,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
left  the  Empire  State  and  traveled  in  the  Old  Dominion.  A 
little  later,  the  mood  for  travel  still  on  him,  he  visited 
Louisiana  and  Texas.  In  1837  leaving  the  south  he  took  up 
his  quarters  in  the  great  north-west  and  spent  the  next  two 
succeeding  years  in  farming.  In  1839  he  returned  to  Xew 
York  State  and  took  np  his  residence  at  Cleveland,  Oswego 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  FOSTER  has  been  actively  engaged  for  many  years  as  a 
manufacturer  of  Avindow  glass.  He  also  carries  on  the  busi- 
ness of  tanning.  In  1867  he  became  identified  with  the 
construction  of  the  Midland  Railroad,  as  director  and  active 
agent,  positions  which  he  still  holds. 

The  Senator  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  politics. 
He  was  formerly  a  Whig,  and  gave  his  first  vote,  in  1840,  for 
WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISOX.  for  President.  Subsequently 
he  sympathized  strongly  with  the  anti-slavery  movement, 
and  became  what  was  known  as  an  Abolitionist.  Since  the 
formation  of  "he  Republican  party  he  has  been  prominently 
identified  with  that  organization. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  majority  of  4.130  over 
his  Democratic  opponent.  He  holds  the  Chairmanship  of 
two  Committees — Erection  and  Division  of  Towns  and 
Counties  and  Poor  Laws.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Railroads. 

Senator  FOSTER  very  seldom  addresses  the  Senate,  but  he 
appreciates  the  wants  and  wishes  of  his  constituents,  and  In- 
deed, if  not  by  word,  is  potent  for  the  interest  of  the  twenty- 
first  district. 


JAMES  H.  GRAHAM.  69 


JAMES  H.  GRAHAM. 


The  twenty-third  Senatorial  district,  consisting  of  the 
counties  of  Chenango,  Delaware  and  Schoharie,  is  repre- 
sented by  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  JAMES  II.  GRA- 
HAM. 

Senator  GRAHAM  was  born  in  Bovina,  Delaware  county, 
New  York,  on  the  18th  of  September,  1812,  and,  conse- 
quently, is  now  in  his  sixty-first  year.  He  is  of  Scotch 
descent,  both  on  his  father's  and  mother's  side.  After  receiv- 
ing a  good,  substantial  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Franklin,  lie  began  his  fight  for  a  place  in  the  world  without 
availing  himself  of  a  collegiate  training.  He  has  been,  in 
the  course  of  his  active  life,  a  farmer,  merchant  and  banker, 
but  some  years  since  retired  from  business. 

The  Senator  has  long  been  prominently  identified  with  the 
town  of  Delhi,  in  which  he  has  resided  for  many  years.  A 
service  of  twelve  years'  duration  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  dem- 
onstrates how  acceptably  he  has  decided  between  man  and 
man.  while  a  decade  of  years  spent  as  Supervisor  speaks 
volumes  for  his  knowledge  of  affairs,  his  business  capacity, 
and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  those  among  whom  his 
life  lias  been  spent.  During  the  last  five  years  of  his  term 
as  Supervisor  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Board. 

Senator  GRAHAM  has  always  been  an  active  participant  in 
polil  leal  matter?,  and  is  strong  in  his  attachment  to  the  party 
of  his  choice.  Since  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
he  has  been  a  staunch  Republican,  even  as  in  earlier  days, 
and  before  the  Missouri  compromise  was  repudiated,  he  was 
an  ardent  "Whig. 

In  IS,")*]  lie  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  National 
Convention,  and  in  1808  was  placed  on  the  Republican 
electoral  ticket. 


70  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

In  1858,  at  the  Convention  called  to  nominate  a  Congress- 
man, to  be  supported  by  the  Republicans  of  the  nineteenth 
Congressional  district  (composed  of  the  counties  of  Dela- 
ware and  Otsego),  the  Delaware  delegation  presented  the 
name  of  JAMES  H.  GRAHAM  as  their  candidate  for  a  seat  in 
the  thirty-sixth  Congress.  The  nomination  met  the  unani- 
mous approval  of  the  Convention,  and,  after  it  had  been 
formally  made,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  as  the 
sense  of  the  Convention  : 

';  Resolved,  That  we  present  with  pleasure  the  name  of 
JAMES  H.  GRAHAM,  of  Delhi,  to  our  fellow-citizens  of  this 
Congressional  district,  and  can  heartily  commend  him  as 
honest,  capable  and  faithful,  and  one  to  whose  hands  our 
cherished  principles  can  with  safety  be  committed." 

As  a  member  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Congress,  Mr.  GRAHAM 
participated  in  the  famous  battle  which  finally  resulted  in 
the  choice  of  Governor  PEXXIXGTOX,  of  Xew  Jersey,  for 
Speaker,  after  two  months  of  ineffectual  balloting  for  SHER- 
MAX  and  BOCOCK.  He  was  a  member  in  Congress  of  the 
Committee  on  Accounts. 

In  1871  he  was  sent  to  the  Assembly  from  the  second  dis- 
trict of  Delaware  county,  and  served  on  the  Committee  on 
Federal  Relations.  He  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  majority 
of  4,804-,  a  handsome  figure,  considering  the  fact  that  Senator 
GRAHAM'S  immediate  predecessor  was  returned  to  the  Senate 
over  an  able  and  popular  Republican,  by  a  majority  of  1,355. 

He  is  Chairman  of  two  Committees  —  on  Retrenchment 
and  on  Internal  Affairs  of  Towns  and  Counties,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Committee  on  Agriculture. 

Senator  GRAHAM  makes  a  prudent  and  sagacious,  though 
an  unobtrusive,  legislator.  Strong  in  the  confidence  reposed 
in  him  by  the  people,  he  watches  the  interests  of  his  con- 
stituents and  those  of  the  State  with  equal  vigilance. 


GABRIEL  T.  HARROWKK.  71 


GABRIEL  T.  HARROWER. 


The  Senator  from  the  Twenty-seventh  is  one  of  those  men 
who,  though  quiet  and  unobtrusive  in  their  demeanor,  are, 
nevertheless,  alert,  reflective  and  sagacious.  Their  voices 
ma)7  not  be  heard  in  the  forum;  they  may  not  enter  into  the 
inner  circles  of  the  political  arena ;  they  may  not  gain  a  hear- 
ing through  flowing  periods  in  the  press ;  but  they  read  closely, 
think  deeply,  and,  consequently,  form  opinions  from  which 
they  are  not  easily  shaken.  Such  men,  in  the  main,  are  our 
farmers  who  represent  the  agricultural  interests  of  our  State, 
and  of  their  number  is  Senator  GABRIEL  T.  HAKROWER. 
He  was  born  in  C'henango  county  in  the  year  1810.  After 
receiving  a  common  school  education,  he  spent  some  time  in 
attendance  upon  the  lyceuin  at  Geneva,  Ontario  county. 
Since  reaching  manhood  he  has  devoted  himself  to  farming  and 
the  lumber  business.  He  stands  well  with  the  people  of  Steu- 
ben  county,  in  which  he  now  resides,  and  in  1853  they  elected 
him  Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of 
Supervisor  at  Lindley,  the  town  in  which  he  resides.  The 
Senator  participated  in  the  grand  work  which,  through  blood 
and  tears,  came  to  a  successful  consummation  —  the  redemp- 
tion of  the  Kepublic  as  accomplished  in  the  late  war.  He 
went  to  the  front  in  command  of  the  161st  regiment,  served 
in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf  under  General  BAXKS.  and 
was  a  participant  in  the  famous  seige  of  Port  Hudson.  His 
record  throughout  was  honorable  and  free  from  any  .stain. 

The  Senator  has,  through  all  his  life,  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  politics.  In  1848  he  was  a  "  Free  Soileiy' so-called,  and 
cast  his  ballot  lor  VAN'  BUREX  and  ADAMS.  In  185G  JOHX  (.'. 
FREMOXT  was  his  man.  He  voted  twice  fur  LIXCOLX  and 
once  for  GRAXT.  and  in  the  Presidential  election  last  fall  for 
HORATK  GHEKI.KY. 


72  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

The  Senator  was  elected  to  his  present  office  after  a  closely 
contested  canvass,  and  had  to  rest  content  with  a  majority 
of  107  and  the  reflection  that,  for  all  practical  purposes,  that 
number  sufficed  as  well  as  if  it  had  been  ten  thousand.  He 
serves  on  the  Militia,  State  Prisons  and  Agriculture  Com- 
mittees ;  is  punctual  and  regular  in  his  attendance  upon  the 
sessions  of  the  Senate,  and  an  attentive  and  appreciative 
observer  of  all  that  comes  up  for  deliberation.  Saying  very 
little,  he,  nevertheless,  evidently  "keeps  up  a  deal  of  think- 
ing." 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON. 


Senator  JOHXSOX  is  the  acknowledged  wit  of  the  Senate. 
He  has  a  keen  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  and  frequently  chooses 
to  place  an  adversary  hors  du  combat  by  a  racy  repartee, 
rather  than  force  his  surrender  by  the  slow  processes  of  logi- 
cal reasoning.  He  rarely  allows  a  subject  to  be  disposed  of 
without  putting  his  mark  upon  it,  and 

" is  so  full  of  pleasing  anecdote, 

So  rich,  so  gay,  so  poignant  in  his  wit, 
Time  vanishes  before  him  as  he  speaks." 

Urbane  and  pleasant  in  his  address,  and  carrying  around 
with  him  "  the  atmosphere  of  gay.  good  cheer,''  he  is  a  very 
popular  gentleman.  A  natural  talker,  fluent  and  facile  on  a 
great  variety  of  subjects,  he  is  one  of  the  marked  men  of  the 
Senate. 

Senator  Joiixsox  represents  the  Twenty-sixth  district, 
including  within  its  territory  the  counties  of  Ontario,  Seneca 
and  Yates.  He  is  a  native  of  the  good  old  Bay  State,  and 
is  now  not  far  from  50  years  of  age.  lie  is  of  unmixed 
English  descent,  the  son  of  DAVID  and  OLIVE  STODARD 

O  ' 

Jonxsox.  His  father  died  in  1855.  at  Herkimer,  Herkimer 
county,  this  State.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  came  to  Xew 


WILLIAM  JOHNSON.  73 

York  while  he  was  yet  an  infant,  with  his  parents,  who  took 
up  their  residence  in  Ilerkimer  county.  He  received  a  com- 
mon school  education,  and  subsequently  was  engaged  some 
five  years  in  mercantile  pursuits.  From  1849  until  185G  he 
followed  the  business  of  jobbing,  as  a  contractor  on  the 
canals,  and  afterward  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  goods  at  Seneca  Falls,  where  he  now  resides.  Of  late 
years  he  has  become  prominently  known  as  a  railroad  con- 
tractor. 

In  18G2,  having  the  year  previous  represented  the  county 
of  Seneca  in  the  Assembly,  he  felt  moved  to  do  his  share  in 
putting  down  the  rebellion,  arguing,  doubtless,  that  it  was 
useless  to  concern  oneself  about  making  laws  for  a  country 
until  it  had  first  been  conclusively  settled  in  the  minds  of  all 
men  that  there  was,  and  was  to  be,  a  country  capable  of 
enforcing  obedience  to  its  laws  and  maintaining  its  own  exist- 
ence. He  raised  the  148th  regiment  Xew  York  State  volun- 
teers and  commanded  it  until  near  the  close  of  the  year  18G3, 
when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  civil  life. 

In  the  Assembly  of  1861  he  was  assigned  a  place  on  two 
important  committees  —  Canals  and  Commerce  and  Naviga- 
tion, and  made  an  intelligent  and  useful  legislator.  He  was 
adjudged  to  have  possessed  a  large  degree  of  representative 
ability,  and  to  have  faithfully  and  efficiently  discharged  his 
official  duties. 

Mr.  JOITXSOV  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  a  district 
usually  carried  by  his  political  opponents,  and  his  success 
under  the  circumstances  was  a  signal  proof  of  great  popu- 
larity. Xot  withstanding  the  other  side  had  a  record  of  332 
majority  for  1800  to  take  heart  with,  he  succeeded  in  wiping 
those'  figures  out  and  gaining  the  Senatorship  by  a  majority 
of  (.Mi4.  He  is  on  the  Standing  Committees  on  Canals. 
Manufactures  and  Grievances,  and  was  Chairman  of  the 
Special  Committee  appointed  to  investigate  certain  charges 
against  Kx-Scnator  TWEED. 


74  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

The  Senator  was  married  in  the  summer  of  1855  to 
ANGELINE  CHAMBERLAIN,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  JACOB  P. 
CHAMBERLAIN. 


LORAN  L.  LEWIS. 


The  Senator  from  the  Thirty-first  district,  which  consists 
of  the  county  of  Erie,  is  Hon.  LOR  AX  L.  LEWIS,  who  was 
born  in  1825,  near  the  city  of  Auburn,  Cayuga  county.  Of 
five  children,  LORAN  L.  was  the  third;  Dr.  Dio  LEWIS,  of 
Boston,  well  known  as  an  author,  journalist  and  lecturer  on 
physiology,  and  the  laws  of  life  and  health,  is  an  elder 
brother,  and  Dr.  GEORGE  W.  LEWIS,  of  Buffalo,  a  younger. 
His  two  sisters  reside  at  the  west,  one  of  them  being  the 
wife  of  Dr.  TISDALE,  of  Indianapolis. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  shared  in  serious  pecuniary 
misfortunes  which  befel  the  family,  and  was  early  brought 
into  painful  contact  with  the  rough  side  of  life.  When 
about  eighteen  years  of  age.  he  warmly  enlisted  in  the 
Washington  temperance  movement,  and  was  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  effective  speakers  of  that  organization  in  the 
county  where  he  resided.  This  fact  is  mentioned,  not 
because  of  its  importance  per  se,  but  to  give  the  key-note  to 
his  whole  life.  In  all  situations  he  has  been  an  earnest, 
practical,  working  American  citizen. 

Mr.  LEWIS  was  educated  at  Auburn,  receiving  the  advanta- 
ges of  an  academical  course.  He  then  studied  law  with  Judge 
HULBERT,  and  finished  his  legal  course  in  the  office  of 
SEWARD  &  BLAITHFORD  of  that  city.  After  his  admission 
to  the  bar,  in  1848,  he  removed  to  Buffalo,  and  devoted  him- 
self with  untiring  zeal  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
Achieving  but  moderate  success  for  a  few  years,  he  toiled  on, 
occupying  an  obscure  office,  accepting  no  adventitious  aids, 
unwavering  in  the  faith  that  interrritv  and  fidelity  \vould 


LORAN  L.  LEWIS.  75 

eventually  command  success.  The  result  has  fully  justified 
his  confidence.  For  several  years  past  he  has  had  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice,  and  has  devoted  his  entire  attention 
and  time  to  the  trial  of  causes,  civil  and  criminal,  in  the 
courts  of  Erie  and  adjoining  counties.  A  large  proportion 
of  his  cases  have  been  those  in  which  he  has  acted  as  counsel 
for  other  lawyers. 

Although  he  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  political 
affairs,  yet  Mr.  LEWIS  has  not,  until  within  a  very  recent 
period,  been  known  as  a  politician.  Absorbed  in  the  profession 
of  his  choice,  nominations  have  sought  him  and  not  he  nom- 
inations, and  he  persistently  declined  to  stand  for  office  until 
1869,  when  without  any  wire-pulling  on  his  part,  he  was 
named  by  acclamation,  by  the  Republican  electors  of  Erie, 
for  the  position  which  he  now  holds.  He  succeeded  Hox. 
A.  P.  NICHOLS,  a  Democrat,  who  had  been  elected  two  years 
previous  by  1,400  majority.  Mr.  LEWIS'  election  by  a  major- 
ity of  259,  furnished  signal  proof  of  the  estimation  in  which 
he  is  held  by  those  who  must  be  presumed  to  know  him  best. 
He  served  on  the  Committees  on  Canals,  Internal  Affairs  and 
Commerce  and  Navigation,  and  established  such  a  reputation 
for  forensic  ability  and  legislative  capacity,  that  his  gratified 
constituents  re-elected  him  by  the  handsome  majority  of 
1.845. 

The  Senator  was  originally  a  free  soil  Democrat,  but  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  since  its  organization. 
In  the  present  Senate  he  is  Chairman  of  the  important  Com- 
mittee on  Canals,  and  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Com- 
merce and  Navigation,  and  Privileges  and  Elections. 


76  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JARVIS  LORD. 


Mr.  LORD,  the  Senator  from  the  Twenty-eighth  district, 
was  born  at  Ballston,  Saratoga  county,  February  10,  1816. 
He  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  as  vigorous  as  he  was  at 
twenty-five ;  cf  good  physical  proportions,  an  excellent  con- 
stitution, and  a  temperament  adapted  to  severe  endurance, 
botli  of  body  and  mind  ;  he  has  been  favored  with  good 
health,  and  seldom  tires  by  active  labor. 

Mr.  LORD  was  the  son  of  poor  parents,  and  had  no  other 
educational  advantages  than  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  in  the  days  of  his  boyhood.  He  availed  himself  of 
these,  however,  so  far  as  to  acquire  a  tolerable  knowledge  of 
those  branches  which  were  to  be  most  essential  to  his  future 
success  in  business  life.  He  early  adopted  the  avocation  of 
farming,  and  though,  during  most  of  his  subsequent  life,  he 
has  had  large  interests  in  other  pursuits,  he  has  made  the 
farm  his  home,  and  has  taken  a  pride  in  the  culture  of  the 
soil.  He  lias  resided,  for  thirty  years  or  more,  at  Pitts- 
ford,  seven  miles  from  Rochester,  and  has  there  one  of 
the  best  cultivated  and  most  productive  farms  in  Monroe 
county.  He  takes  delight  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  and 
the  raising  of  stock,  devoting  himself  particularly  to  horses, 
of  which  he  is  a  great  admirer. 

Mr.  LORD  has  always  been  a  Democrat  of  the  JACKSON 
and  WRIGHT  school.  Devoted  to  the  Union,  he  warmly 
espoused  the  Federal  cause  at  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion, 
and  gave  freely  to  promote  the  national  interests,  and,  it  is 
said,  did  more  than  any  other  man  in  his  town  to  keep  the 
calls  for  men  filled,  and  to  help  the  soldiers  in  the  field  and 
at  home.  He  has  enjoyed  a  personal  popularity  in  his  own 
town,  equaled  by  few  men,  and  when  nominated  for  office, 
his  neighbors  have  supported  him  with  enthusiasm,  lie  was 


JAR  vis  LORD.  *7u 

made  the  recipient  of  a  testimonial,  in  the  spring  of  1871, 
which  spoke-  volumes  as  to  his  success  in  office,  and  his 
assured  place  in  the  confidence  of  those  who  had  intrusted 
vital  interests  to  his  keeping.  Serving  two  terms  in  the 
lower  House,  and  one  term  in  the  upper  one,  he  had  devel- 
oped signal  legislative  capacity,  and  an  unfaltering  devotion 
to  the  best  interests  of  his  constituents.  On  his  return 
home  in  1871,  at  the  end  of  his  first  Senatorial  term,  his 
constituents  gave  expression  to  their  appreciation  of  their 
gratitude  for  his  services  in  their  regard  by  affording  for  his 
acceptance  a  testimonial  in  the  shape  of  an  elaborate  service 
of  plate.  The  presentation  ceremonies  took  place  at  the 
Senator's  residence  at  Pittsford,  and  a  special  train  was  run 
from  Eochester  for  the  accommodation  of  the  large  number 
who  desired  to  be  present  on  the  interesting  occasion.  The 
trees  upon  the  grounds  connected  with  the  house  were  hung 
with  many  colored  lanterns,  producing,  with  the  brilliantly 
lighted  house,  a  fine  effect.  After  the  company  had  paid 
their  respects  to  the  Senator  and  his  beautiful  and  charming 
wife,  the  testimonial  was  produced,  and  WILLIAM  N.  SAGE, 
on  behalf  of  the  admirers  of  the  Senator,  spoke  as  follows : 

PRESENTATION    ADDRESS    BY   WILLIAM   1ST.    SAGE. 

SENATOR  :  Some  of  your  neighbors  and  friends,  without 
regard  to  their  political  affinities  and  associations,  have  met 
together  in  your  own  quiet  home  to  bear  testimony  to  the 
zeal,  the  tact,  the  ability,  and  the  faithfulness  you  have 
manifested  for  the  past  two  years  in  every  interest  connected 
with  this  Senatorial  district.  On  the  great  and  fundamental 
political  questions  of  the  day  we  may  honestly  differ,  and  yet 
at  the  same  time  award  due  praise  and  honor  to  the  man 
who,  in  practical  legislation,  proves  himself  a  faithful  public 
servant,  and  who  represents  his  district  in  all  its  just  claims, 
as  you  have  nobly  done,  and  who,  when  the  conflict  and 
strife  are  over,  can  return  to  those  you  have  so  faithfully 
served,  and  receive  from  all  the  welcome  plaudit,  "  well 


76*  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

done ; "  in  which  welcome  the  orphan,  the  sick,  the  home- 
less, the  child  of  poverty,  and  even  the  wayward  boy,  will 
unite  with  a  hearty  "  God  bless  you."  Far  distant  may  that 
day  be  when  the  great  State  of  New  York  shall  cease  her 
interest  in  the  various  charities  and  educational  institutions 
which  have  so  honored  her  history,  and  which  must  and 
shall  be  sustained.  Rather  let  her  in  all  that  elevates  and 
refines  humanity  be  true  to  her  own  noble  motto,  "  Excel- 
sior," "higher,  still  higher."  But  I  am  not  here  to  deliver  a 
speech,  but  come  with  other  friends  to  bear  testimony  of 
personal  regard  for  your  faithfulness,  and  to  leave  in  your 
own  home  the  evidence  of  that  regard.  Accept  then, 
Senator,  from  these  friends  this  service  of  silver  in  the  spirit 
intended,  and  we  shall  carry  away  with  us  pleasant  memories 
of  this  evening's  interview. 

The  remarks  of  Mr.  SAGE,  finely  delivered  as  they  were, 
appeared  to  express  the  sentiments  of  the  gentlemen  present. 
The  address  was  received  with  applause.  Senator  LORD 
replied  as  follows : 

REPLY  OF   SENATOR   LORD. 

GENTLEMEXJ:  —  I  have  no  language  adequate  to  the 
expression  of  my  sense  of  gratitude  and  the  fullness  of  my 
heart  for  this  manifestation  of  confidence  and  respect  on  the 
part  of  my  friends.  This  present  is  beautiful  and  valuable,  as 
regards  gold  and  silver,  but  the  sentiments  which  accompany 
it,  and  the  language  so  beautifully  expressing  them,  make  it 
more  valuable  to  me  than  all  the  treasures  on  earth  —  and 
this  value  is  greatly  enhanced  by  the  fact  that  the  "present" 
comes  from  my  friends,  without  distinction  of  party.  It  i< 
only  about  eighteen  months  since  I  attended  a  convention 
for  the  nomination  of  a  candidate  to  represent  this  district 
in  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  New  York.  As  an  humble 
member  of  that  Convention,  I  was  ardently  in  faror  of  the 
nomination  of  a  gentleman  whom  I  thought  better  qualified 
to  represent  the  district  than  any  other  person  whose  name 


JAR  vis  LORD.  C76 

had  been  mentioned,  but  by  his  tact  and  eloquence,  and  by 
the  decision  of  the  convention,  I  was  honored  with  that 
nomination.  I  left  the  convention  with  a  sad  and  heavy 
heart.  The  thoughts  which  revolved  in  my  mind  were,  that 
in  case  of  my  election  I  would  be  expected  to  represent  the 
district  as  ably  as  the  distinguished  gentlemen  who  had  pre- 
ceded me  —  men  learned  in  the  law,  and  men  who  enjoyed 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  them.  But 
election  day  came  and  I  had  every  reason  to  feel  proud  of  the 
result.  That  result  was  accomplished  by  Republican  votes, 
and  upon  assuming  the  duties  of  the  office  I  felt  obligated, 
and  it  was  my  determination  to  represent  the  whole  people 
of  the  district  without  distinction  of  party,  to  the  best  of 
my  ability ;  how  well  I  have  succeeded  is  for  the  people  to 
judge.  I  may  have  made  mistakes,  but  I  assure  you,  gentle- 
men, they  were  of  the  head,  not  of  the  heart. 

I  have  been  a  resident  of  this  county  for  nearly  forty 
years.  I  came  here  when  a  mere  boy,  without  money,  and, 
as  it  were,  without  friends.  During  all  this  long  residence  I 
have  received  uniformly  nothing  but  kindness  and  friend- 
ship from  all  classes  of  my  fellow  citizens.  I  hope  to  remain 
among  you  the  remainder  of  my  life,  and  if  I  can  succeed  in 
retaining  your  esteem  and  good  will,  my  ambition  will  be 
satisfied.  For  whatever  success  has  attended  my  labors  as 
Senator,  I  owe  much  to  the  gentlemen  with  whom  I  was 
associated.  I  have  been  treated  by  them  all,  without  dis- 
tinction of  party,  with  the  utmost  kindness,  but  what  sus- 
tained me  most  was  the  reflection  that  I  had  the  strong  arms 
and  warm  hearts  of  a  united  constituency  at  home  to  indorse 
my  actions.  While  I  have  been  obliged  to  make  many  sac- 
rifices respecting  my  own  comfort  socially  and  my  interests 
pecuniarily  by  neglect  of  private  affairs,  and  while  the  duties 
of  the  office  have  been  responsible  and  laborious,  your  pres- 
ence here  to-night  and  the  kind  words  you  have  spoken  have 
repaid  me  a  thousand  fold. 

Gentlemen,  I  can  only  thank  you  for  this  beautiful  and 


76 d  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

valuable  testimonial,  and  the  flattering  expressions  with  which 
you  have  accompanied  it.  I  can  assure  you  that  I  shall 
treasure  your  gift  and  your  words  in  grateful  memory  while 
life  lasts,  and  whatever  may  be  my  lot  in  the  future,  I  can 
never  fail  to  feel  under  the  deepest  obligations  to  the  people 
of  Monroe  county. 

In  conclusion,  gentlemen,  I  can  only  say  that  my  fervent 
prayers  shall  ever  be  for  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  you 
and  yours,  and  that  through  the  remaining  journey  of  life 
your  pathway  may  be  strewn  with  flowers. 

The  remarks  of  Senator  LOKD  were  received  with  ap- 
plause. 

CHARLES  B.  HILL  now  stepped  forward  and  read  the  fol- 
lowing letters : 

BUFFALO,  May  26,  1871. 

DEAR  SIR  —  I  have  to  thank  you  for  your  kind  favor  of 
the  26th  instant,  and  exceedingly  regret  that  very  important 
business  engagements  compel  my  attendance  in  New  York 
at  that  time. 

Please  accept  my  compliments  for  yourself  and  friends, 
and  assure  them  that  I  envy  the  good  time  they  are  to  have 
with  our  wide-hearted,  generous  gentleman,  the  honorable 
Senator. 

With  great  respect,  your  friend, 

F.  A.  ALBERGER. 
COL.  JAMES  BRACKETT. 


FIFTH  AVENUE  HOTEL, 

NEW  YORK,  May  27,  1871. 
COL.  JAMES  BRACKETT  : 

MY  DEAR  SIR  —  I  have  just  i*eceived  an  invitation  to  be 
present  at  the  presentation  of  a  testimonial  to  the  Hon. 
JARVIS  LORD,  on  Monday  evening,  the  29th  hist.  Not 
having  been  favored  with  the  privilege  of  contributing,  I 
feel  more  sensibly  the  honor  of  the  invitation,  I  sincerely 


JAR  vis  LORD.  «7fi 

regret  that  my  attendance  upon  the  national  insurance 
convention  now  assembled  in  this  city,  will  prevent  the 
possibility  of  my  acceptance. 

The  participation  of  citizens,  "  irrespective  of  party,"  in 
this  testimonial  is  a  compliment  which  does  well-merited 
honor  to  the  honorable  Senator,  and  is  worthy  the  high 
character  and  independence  of  his  constituents.  It  is  an 
auspicious  omen  that  public  services  so  eminent,  so  disin- 
terested, so  valuable  to  the  whole  community,  receive  such 
recognition.  I  cannot  allow  this  occasion  to  pass,  without 
joining  with  my  old  fellow  citizens  in  contributing  some 
little  memento  of  my  cordial  sympathy  with  their  generous 
movement,  and  of  my  own  high  personal  regard  for  those 
nobler  qualities  of  heart  and  head,  which  so  justly  entitle  the 
honorable  Senator  to  the  love  and  respect  which  he  so  uni- 
versally enjoys.  Please  add  the  trifling  token  herewith  sent 
to  the  testimonial,  and  convey  to  my  honorable  friend,  the 
Senator,  the  best  wishes  and  congratulations  of  his  and  your 
friend  and  humble  servant, 

GEO.  W.  MILLER. 

The  formality  of  presentation  over,  the  presents  were 
inspected  and  admired.  The  testimonial  consisted  of  the 
following  articles :  Silver  server,  coffee  urn,  two  tea  pots,  sugar 
bowl,  cream  pitcher,  slop  bowl,  card  dish,  fruit  stand  and 
soup  tureen.  The  articles  are  all  solid  sterling  silver,  hand- 
somely engraved  and  gold  lined.  The  silver  is  marked : 

"  Hox.  JAKVIS  LORD,  from  the  citizens  of  the  twenty-eighth 
Senatorial  district  of  New  York,  as  an  acknowledgment  of 
faithful  services." 

All  the  other  articles  are  marked  with  the  monogram, 
>%  J.  L."  in  handsome  old  English  letter.  The  cost  of  the 
testimonial  was  $2,500. 

The  company  present  now  scattered  through  the  tastefully 
furnished  rooms.  Some  chatted  and  smoked  upon  the  ver- 
andahs, and  others  resorted  to  the  "'bath-room."  Congratu- 


76f  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

lations  were  exchanged  with  Senator  LOKD,  and  all  were  in 
the  best  of  spirits  over  the  occasion.  The  following  is  a 
partial  list  of  those  who  were  present :  W.  H.  Bowman, 
W.  H.  Crennell,  John  Lutes,  Martin  Briggs,  B.  M.  Baker, 
E.  E.  Sill,  S.  B.  Roby,  Win.  N.  Sage,  Wm.  L.  Sage,  0.  B.  Hill, 
R.  E.  Sherlock,  A.  J.  Warner,  Henry  Churchill,  James  X. 
Phelan,  Ezra  Jones,  Win.  C.  Rowley,  Theodore  E.  Smith. 
George  G.  Clarkson,  W.  H.  Gorsline,  Frederick  Cook,  George 
J.  Whitney,  Charles  H.  Chapin,  Win.  R.  Seward,  Lewis  Selye, 
W.  H.  Benjamin.  Simon  Stettheimer,  E.  B.  Jennings,  George 
E.  Jennings,  C.  A.  Kellogg,  C.  II.  Mason,  Wm.  H.  Cum- 
mings,  C.  H.  Stillwell,  A.  G.  Wheeler,  Bernard  Hughes, 
Oliver  Ladue,  S.  M.  Spencer,  T.  W.  Tone,  J.  H.  Pool,  A.  V. 
Smith,  Thomas  Leighton,  D.  Richmond,  Henry  C.  Frost, 
James  R.  Chamberlain,  E.  S.  Ettenheimer,  C.  E.  Upton, 
Levi  S.  Fulton,  F.  Dewitt  Clarke,  Dr.  B.  L.  Hovey,  Dwight 
Knapp,  E.  C.  Purcell,  Wm.  Mudgett,  M.  F.  Reynolds,  James 
Bellows,  E.  F.  Hyde,  H.  P.  Langworthy,  L.  A'.  Pratt,  J.  W. 
Mcllhenny,  John  H.  Howe,  Edgar  Holmes,  Chas.  F.  Smith, 
Harvey  W.  Brown,  W.  A.  Reynolds,  Seth  Green,  Jas.  0.  How- 
ard, Byron  Holley,  W.  B.  Duffy,  W.  W.  Reid,  Frank  A.  Baker, 
A.  Carver,  Mr.  Miller,  Levi  A.  Ward.  The  above  are  all  of 
Rochester.  The  following  from  other  localities  were  also  in 
attendance:  C.  C.  B.Walker,  Corning;  Hon.  Benjamin  F. 
Angel,  Geneseo ;  William  C.  Dryer,  Victor ;  D.  A.  Ogden, 
Penn  Yan;  James  M.  Wilsie,  Pittsford:  I.  H.  Sutherland, 
Pittsford.  The  press  were  represented  by  the  following: 
William  Purcell  and  George  G.  Cooper,  Rochester  Union ; 
Francis  S.  Rew,  Rochester  Express;  Charles  S.  Collins,  Sun- 
day Xewslctter;  S.  C.  Cleveland,  Penn  Yan  Chronicle;  R.  L. 
Adams,  Geneva  Courier ;  J.  A.  Hoekstra,  Rochester  Demo- 
crat and  Chronicle. 

Choice  Music  by  a  brass  band,  and  an  elegant  supper, 
brought  the  memorable  occasion  to  a  close. 

And  now  a  few  details  of  that  legislative  career,  of  which 
we  have  spoken,  and  the  Senator's  business  history.  He  was 


JARVIS  LORD.  77 

elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1858  on  the  Democratic  ticket, 
when  the  district  went  Kepublican  by  several  hundreds.  He 
was  elected  again  in  1866,  by  a  majority  of  fifteen  over  a 
strong  opponent,  when  the  district  gave  Governor  FENTON 
six  hundred  majority.  At  the  opening  of  the  Legislature, 
in  1867,  his  party  presented  him  as  the  Democratic  candi- 
date for  Speaker,  and  sustained  him  by  an  unbroken  vote ; 
but  the  Republican  majority  in  the  House  accomplished  the 
election  of  Mr.  PITTS.  He  has  once  or  more  served  as  Super- 
visor. 

Mr.  LORD  has  been  engaged  for  many  years  in  building 
canals  in  this  State,  and  he  enjoys  a  wide  reputation  as  a 
contractor.  He  is  President  of  the  Bank  of  Monroe,  of 
Rochester,  a  sound  and  reliable  institution,  and  as  a  business 
man  is  well  and  favorably  known  all  over  central  and  west- 
ern New  York. 

Mr.  LORD  was  member  of  the  last  Senate,  1870-71,  and 
\vas  made  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee.  Although  a 
new  man  in  that  body,  at  that  time,  he  took  a  leading  posi- 
tion from  the  start  and  gave  evidence  of  an  extensive  knowledge 
of  the  wants  and  necessities  of  the  State.  His  report  on  the 
payment  of  a  portion  of  the  State  debt  in  coin,  made  dur- 
ing the  first  year  of  his  term,  was  regarded  as  a  paper  of  great 
clearness  and  force.  The  Senator  was  re-nominated  under 
circumstances  which  must  have  been  peculiarly  gratifying  to 
him,  indicating,  as  they  did,  that  his  course  as  a  legislator 
met  with  the  hearty  approval  of  his  constituents.  Before 
the  re-nomination  was  made,  a  letter  was  read  to  the  conven- 
tion from  him,  declining  another  senatorial  term,  and  giving 
his  reasons  therefor.  The  convention  not  seeing  eye  to  eye 
with  Mr.  LORD  on  that  point,  and  having  nominated  him  by 
acclamation,  sent  a  committee  to  inform  the  nominee  of  their 
action,  whereof  the  Senator  appeared  in  the  convention  and 
said  if  his  letter  of  declination  would  not  suffice,  he  would 
vield  to  the  wishes  of  his  constituents  and  take  the  field. 


78  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

He  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  1,838,  an  increase  of  1,138  on 
his  majority  of  1869. 

Mr.  LORD  does  not  claim  to  be  an  orator ;  his  attention 
has  never  been  bestowed  on  the  embellishments  of  rhetoric 
and  elocution.  Whenever  he  has  an  opinion  to  utter  he 
delivers  it  point  blank  and  with  force,  if  not  with  grace. 
His  shrewdness,  plain  sense  and  knowledge  of  the  world  are 
his  leading  characteristics,  and  they  serve  him  well  in  the 
accomplishment  of  his  ends  as  a  Senator. 


SAMUEL  S.  LOWERY. 


SAMUEL  S.  LOWERY  of  LTtica,  who  represents  the  nine- 
teenth Senatorial  district,  consisting  of  the  county  of  Oneida, 
was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  on  the  fifth  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1831.  It  would,  therefore,  be  an  Hibernicism  to  say 
that  he  is  a  Scotchman,  but  his  ancestry,  not  less  than  his 
characteristics,  stamp  him  as  one  who  is  more  a  Gael  than  a 
Celt. 

Senator  LOWERY'S  parents  emigrated  to  this  country  when 
SAMUEL  was  about  fourteen  years  old,  and  settled  in  Oneida 
county.  He  received  a  good  common  school  education  in 
Ireland,  and.  by  reason  of  strong  taste  for  books,  he  has 
acquired  during  his  latter  years  in  this  country  an  extensive 
fund  of  knowledge. 

The  Senator  is,  by  occupation,  a  manufacturer  of  woolen 
goods.  In  this  business  he  has  been  quite  successful,  and 
conducts,  at  the  present  time,  an  extensive  establishment, 
in  which  he  employs  a  large  number  of  hands.  He  settled 
in  Whitestown,  Oneida  county,  on  his  arrival  in  this  country, 
and  there  remained  until  the  year  1848.  From  thence,  he 
went  to  Manchester,  Xew  Hampshire,  where  he  was  con- 
nected with  a  woolen  mill  until  ls.55,  when  he  left  and  came 


SAMUEL  S.  LOWERY.  79 

to  Utica,  and  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business.  Success 
crowned  his  efforts,  and,  in  1861,  he  abandoned  dry  goods  to 
become  a  AVOO!  dealer,  and,  two  years  later,  started  the  mill 
which  he  has  since  run. 

In  politics  Senator  LOWERY,  although  a  strict  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  Republican  organization,  is  never  bit- 
terly partisan.  Until  his  election  to  the  Assembly  of  1870,  he 
neither  held  nor  sought  office.  He  was  chosen  to  that  body 
by  a  majority  of  448,  over  a  worthy  and  popular  competitor,  in 
a  district  Avhere  the  Republican  majority  in  the  previous  year 
was  less  than  fifty.  Serving  upon  the  Committees  on  Public 
Education,  State  Charitable  Institutions,  and  Roads  and 
Bridges,  he  proved  faithful  to  the  interests  of  his  constitu- 
ents, and  exhibited  a  comprehensive  knowledge  of  the  duties 
of  a  legislator.  As  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Education, 
h<:-  was  especially  distinguished  for  his  sturdy  and  unflinch- 
ing opposition  to  the  policy  of  sectarian  appropriations. 

Mr.  LOWERY  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  majority  of 
1,591  over  his  opponent  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  pre- 
ceding Senate,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  52,  in  a  can- 
vass, in  which  the  Republican  candidate  for  Secretary  of  State 
received  a  majority  of  1,023,  in  the  nineteenth  Senatorial  dis- 
trict. Senator  LOWERY  is  very  properly  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  Committee  on  Manufactures ;  he  is  also  Chairman 
of  the  State  Prison  Committee,  and  a  member  of  several 
other  important  Committees.  He  had  the  honor  of  renomi- 
nating  ROSCOE  COXKLIXG  for  United  States  Senator,  and 
his  speech,  in  joint  caucus  of  the  Republican  members  of  the 
Senate  and  Assembly,  in  presenting  that  gentleman,  was  an 
able  and  eloquent  effort. 

His  name  having  lately  been  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  mayoralty  of  Utica,  the  Senator  informed  his  friends  that, 
while  representing  the  nineteenth  Senatorial  district,  he  felt 
in  obligation  bound  to  decline  any  other  office,  the  holding 
of  which  might  interfere  Avith  his  Senatorial  duties.  Com- 


80  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

meriting  on  this  decision,  the  Utica  "  Herald  "  makes  some 
remarks  which  fully  serve  as  a  close  for  this  sketch  : 

"  In  accepting  the  office  of  Senator,  Mr.  LOWERY  pledged 
the  people  of  Oneida  county  undivided  official  duty.  This 
pledge  he  has  fully  redeemed,  carefully  watching  the  inter- 
ests of  his  constituents,  and  those  of  the  State.  That  Mr. 
LOWERY  is  grateful  for  this  expression  of  the  esteem  of 
his  fellow  townsmen,  none  that  know  him  need  be  assured. 
He  has  wisely  chosen  not  to  accept  an  office  which  might 
divide  his  attention,  caring  first  to  redeem,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  most  strict  constructionist,  the  obligations 
assumed  with  the  office  of  Senator.  We  congratulate  the 
people  of  Oneida  county,  on  the  possession  of  a  Senator  who 
has  so  high  a  sense  of  his  official  obligations." 

Mr.  LOWERY  will  be  remembered  in  connection  Avith  the 
present  Senate,  for  the  prominent  part  he  played  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  charter  for  the  city  of  Xew  York.  He  stoutly 
insisted  from  the  first,  that  the  appointing  power  should  be 
vested  in  the  mayor,  and  defended  his  position  with  much 
ability  and  eloquence. 


ARCHIBALD.  C.  McGOWAK 


The  Twentieth  Senatorial  district,  composed  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Otsego  and  Herkimer,  is  represented  by  ARCHIBALD 
C.  McGowAX.  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch.  Residing  in 
Herkimer,  and  receiving  only  a  nominal  support  from  Otsego, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  large  majority  through 
force  of  his  personal  popularity  at  home.  Not  a  foolish 
talker  nor  blunderer,  but  a  straight-forward,  quiet,  common- 
sense  man,  lie  knows  his  business  and  does  it  —  does  it  hon- 
estly, and  treats  every  legislative  measure  with  the  same  fair- 
ness and  attention  that  he  bestows  upon  his  personal  mat- 
ters. 


ARCHIBALD  C.  McGowAN.  81 

Mr.  McGowAN  was  bom  in  Pownal,  Bennington  county, 
Vermont,  August  26,  1825.  His  grandfather,  JAMES  Mc- 
GOWAX,  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1750,  and  emigrated  to  the 
colonies  before  the  Eevolution.  He  served  in  the  Conti- 
nental army,  and  subsequently  settled  at  Hoosick,  Rensselaer 
county,  where  CLARK  McGowAN,  father  of  the  Senator,  was 
born. 

Both  of  Mr.  McGowAN's  parents  died  when  he  Avas  an 
infant,  leaving  him  dependent  for  support  and  instruction 
npon  his  relatives.  He  received  a  good  common  school  edu- 
cation, and  afterward  spent  some  time  in  attendance  at  the 
Jonesville.  Saratoga  county,  academy,  passing  from  thence 
to  farming,  at  which  he  worked  until  his  seventeenth  year. 
The  next  seven  years  of  his  life  he  clerked  it,  and  after  that, 
was,  by  turns,  a  merchant,  boat-builder,  farmer,  and  dealer 
in  lumber  and  coal.  At  the  present  time  he  is  President  of 
the  Frankfort  and  Ilion  Railroad  Company.  He  was  mar- 
ried at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  to  MARY  LOUISA  ROGERS,  and 
has  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  dead.  His  sur- 
viving child,  ARCHIBALD  W.  McGowAN,  is  now  in  his  tenth 
year. 

Glancing  at  the  political  chapter  of  the  Senator's  life,  we 
find  that,  until  1856,  he  was  a  Democrat ;  in  that  year  he 
voted  for  MILLARD  FILLMORE,  the  candidate  of  the  American 
National  Convention,  for  the  Presidency.  A  couple  of  years 
later  he  espoused  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
ever  since  has  been  actively  identified  with  it.  His  legisla- 
tive career  commenced  in  1863,  when  he  was  sent  to  repre- 
sent the  county  of  Herkimer  in  the  Assembly.  He  served  a 
second  term  in  that  body  in  1866  ;  in  the  former  year  he  was 
a  member  of  the  Canal  Committee,  and  in  the  latter  was 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Joint  Library,  and  a  mem- 
ber  of  the  Census  and  Apportionment  and  Engrossed  Bills 
Committees.  During  the  years  1867-8-9  he  represented  the 
town  of  Frankfort  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors. 

Mr.  Mc(iowAN  was  elected  to  the  position  which  he  now 


82  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

holds  by  a  majority  of  643,  receiving  1,323  majority  in  Her- 
kimer  county,  and  running  ahead  of  the  State  and  county 
ticket  nearly  300.  Frankfort  showed  her  appreciation  of  one 
who  is  "  not  without  honor"  where  he  is  best  known,  by  giv- 
ing him  258  majority.  He  made  a  most  gallant  fight,  and  was 
rewarded  by  the  largest  majority  .given  in  the  county  of 
Herkimer  for  any  candidate,  local  or  State,  for  many  years. 

Mr.  McGowAN  serves  in  the  Senate  on  three  Committees 
—  Canals,  Salt,  and  Agriculture.  Of  this  last  named  he  is 
Chairman,  and  as  such,  is,  as  one  may  say,  the  Senatorial 
guardian  of  the  interests  of  the  great  branch  of  industry  and 
wealth.  Through  him  all  the  agricultural  societies  of  tbe 
State  present  their  affairs  to  the  Senate.  Of  popular  manner, 
and  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  various  industries  of  the 
State,  Senator  McGowAX  makes  a  faithful  and  efficient 
servant  of  the  people. 


EDWARD   M.  MADDEN. 


There  are  some  men  who.  remembering  the  implied  injunc- 
tion of  Holy  Writ  contained  in  the  exclamation,  "  I  would 
thou  wert  either  cold  or  hot,"  do  whatsoever  their  hands  find 
to  do  with  unqualified  fervency.  They  recognize  no  such 
things  in  the  world  as  half-truths;  to  them  whatever  is  not 
radically  right  is  radically  wrong,  and  rice  versa.  Their 
trumpets  never  give  forth  an  uncertain  sound  or  one  wanting 
in  volume,  and  if  all  the  Jericho  walls  at  which  their  efforts 
are  directed  do  not  tumble,  they  —  gazing  upon  some  stub- 
born piece  of  masonry  on  which  their  trumpeting  makes  no 
impression  —  have  the  consolation  that  goes  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  always  making  a  red-hot  and  never  a  luke- 
warm fight. 

Senator  MADDEN  belongs  to  this  school  of  men.     He  has 


EDWARD  M.  MADDEN.  83 

decided  convictions,  and  is  very  decided  in  expressing  them. 
Once  his  mind  is  made  up,  he  is  extremely  hard  to  move 
from  his  position,  and  whoever  questions  the  faith  that  is  in 
him  is  sure  to  hear  the  reasons  on  which  that  faith  rests 
couched  in  unequivocal  language.  His  aye  and  nay  are  like 
a  woman's  : 

"  When  he  wills,  he  wills,  you  may  depend  on't, 
And  if  he  wont,  he  wont,  so  there's  an  end  on't." 

GKOKGE  W.  BUNG  AY,  the  poet,  in  a  volume  of  "  Pen  and  Ink 
Portraits,"  issued  in  1857,  has  an  appreciative  sketch  of  the 
subject  of  this  biography,  from  which  we  take  the  following : 

"  Senator  MADDEST  represents  the  county  of  Orange,  where 
he  was  born,  has  always  lived,  and  where  he  will  probably 
die,  unless  political  events  so  shape  themselves  that  his 
unquenchable  love  of  liberty,  and  intense  hatred  of  slavery, 
should  induce  him  to  leave  his  Lares  and  Penates,  and 
migrate  to  Kansas.*  Like  many  other  men  of  mark,  he  is 
Avholly  the  artificer  of  his  own  fortune.  He  had  no  advan- 
tages of  early  education.  From  the  age  of  nine  to  fourteen 
he  commenced  fitting  himself  for  the  great  battle  of  life  as  an 
operative  in  a  cotton  factory ;  thence  he  pursued  his  studies 
as  an  apprentice  in  a  tin  shop;  graduated  in  a  hardware 
store,  and  took  his  final  degree,  as  a  retail  merchant,  at  Mid- 
dletown,  where  he  now  has  a  very  extensive  saw  factory. 
Nature  has  done  much  for  him.  Gifted  with  a  fine  consti- 
tution, his  iron  will,  unbending  energy,  indomitable  perse- 
verance, and  unflagging  industry  have  combined  to  make 
him  a  hard  student  and  a  well-read  man.  His  mind  is  well 
stored  with  practical  knowledge,  and  few  men  are  so  thor- 
oughly posted  in  the  political  history  of  our  State  or  country. 
There  is  no  man  in  the  Senate  of  greater  pluck  or  nerve. 
Governed  in  all  his  actions  by  fixed  principles,  nothing  ever 
turns  him  from  his  purpose,  when  his  course  is  once  marked 
out.  The  State  never  had  a  more  watchful  guardian  over 

*  He  probably  has  given  up  the  idea  of  ^oing  to  Kansas.  —  [Er?. 


84  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

its  interests.  He  is  extremely  sensitive  and  jealous  about  all 
inroads  upon  the  treasury  —  more  so  than  if  it  were  his  own 
private  purse.  His  active  business  habits  make  him  invalu- 
able on  committees,  and  woe-betide  the  unlucky  wight  who 
comes  before  him  with  a  doubtful  claim.  He  participates 
freely  in  all  debates,  dissecting  the  subtleties  and  sophistries 
of  lawyers  with  the  sharp  scalpel  of  common  sense.  He  is  a 
nervous,  rapid  speaker,  and  no  man  in  the  Senate  is  more 
earnest,  energetic,  forcible  or  convincing.  He  goes  in  a 
straight  geometrical  line  right  to  the  point,  without  any 
flowers  of  rhetoric,  but  with  a  directness  that  there  is  no 
mistaking.  He  uses  no  pearls  of  poetry,  or  nights  of  fancy, 
but  deals  altogether  in  the  purest  and  strongest  Anglo  Saxon. 
He  always  votes  in  accordance  with  his  convictions.  Xo 
motives  of  policy,  expediency  or  interest;  no  regard  for 
individuals  or  localities ;  no  personal  friendships  can  make 
him  swerve  one  hair's  breadth  from  his  line  of  duty.  He 
engages  in  no  'log  rolling,'  never  aiding  any  project  of 
doubtful  propriety  to  secure  assistance  in  measures  of  real 
merit." 

Senator  MADDEX  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  and  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  in  1856-7  as  an  anti-Xebraska  man.  He 
was  Chairman  of  the  Insurance  Committee  in  that  body, 
and  a  member  of  the  Finance,  Claims,  and  Commerce  and 
Navigation  Committees.  He  made  a  good  record,  proving 
himself  to  be  a  strong,  popular,  earnest  man.  He  was 
elected  to  the  present  Senate  by  a  majority  of  2,085  over  his 
opponent,  GEORGE  M.  BEEBE,  a  member  of  the  present 
Assembly. 

In  appointing  the  Committees  this  year,  the  President  of 
the  Senate  placed  Mr.  MADDEX  at  the  head  of  Railroads,  a 
place  of  great  honor  and  responsibility. 


HENRY  C.  MURPHY.  85 


HENRY  C.  MURPHY. 


Mr.  MURPHY  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being,  in  a  legisla- 
tive sense,  the  father  of  the  Senate,  the  present  being  his 
twelfth  consecutive  year  of  service  in  that  body.  He  is,  not 
only  by  right  of  experience,  but  also  by  right  of  talents  and 
accomplishments,  the  ranking  Democrat  of  the  Legislature, 
and  the  leader  of  his  party  in  the  upper  house. 

HENRY  CRUSE  MURPHY  was  born  in  Brooklyn  in  1810,  and 
has  ever  since  been  a  resident  of  that  city.  After  receiving  a 
preparatory  education,  he  entered  Columbia  College,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1830.  He  then  commenced  the  study 
of  the  law  with  the  late  PETER  W.  RADCLIFFE,  of  New  York, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1833.  In  the  year  following 
he  married  Miss  AMELIA-GREENWOOD,  daughter  of  RICHARD 
GREENWOOD,  of  Haverstraw,  Rockland  county,  New  York. 
Though  applying  himself  assiduously  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession,  Mr.  MURPHY  found  time  to  bestow  on  literary 
and  political  subjects,  and  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  sev- 
eral periodicals  of  the  day.  He  thus  early  became  known  in 
political  circles,  in  which  he  has  since  occupied  a  foremost 
position. 

At  the  time  Mr.  MURPHY  entered  public  life,  the  State  of 
New  York  had  been  long  pursuing,  in  regard  to  its  moneyed 
interests,  a  policy  which  had  placed  the  banks,  in  every  sec- 
tion of  the  State,  under  the  control  of  petty  monopolists, 
created  by  political  favoritism.  A  convention  of  the  young 
men  of  the  day  assembled  at  Herkimer,  in  1834.  to  which 
Mr.  MURPHY  was  elected  a  delegate.  On  its  organization  he 
was  appointed  Chairman  on  Resolutions,  and  then,  for  the 
first  time,  exhibited  that  foresight  and  energy  of  character 
lor  which  lie  has  since  been  distinguished.  He  took  occasion 
at  once  to  introduce  in  the  Committee,  and  subsequently  in 


86  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

the  Convention,  a  resolution  denouncing  the  above  policy, 
although  the  patronage  which  it  created  had  been  distributed 
for  the  benefit  of  his  own  party.  Violent  opposition  was 
made  to  the  adoption  of  this  resolution,  but  it  finally  passed 
with  some  modification.  It  was,  however,  never  permitted 
to  see  the  light,  having  been  suppressed  in  the  official  report 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention.  Still  it  had  its  effect. 
The  fact  that  the  resolution  had  been  smothered  soon  became 
known.  The  New  York  Evening  Post,  then  edited  by  WM. 
LEGGETT,  and  many  other  journals,  exposed  the  unfair  pro- 
ceeding, took  up  the  doctrine  and  gave  it  a  strength  and 
popularity  which  resulted,  in  a  feAV  years,  in  the  utter  pros- 
tration of  the  system  of  monopolized  banking  in  the  State 
of  Xew  York. 

Mr.  MURPHY  was  soon  after  appointed  Attorney  and  Coun- 
sel to  the  corporation  of  his  native  city,  and,  consequently, 
became  familiar  with  the  nature  and  operation  of  municipal 
corporations  generally.  In  1842  he  was  elected  Mayor  of 
Brooklyn.  During  his  administration  he  introduced  a  sys- 
tem of  retrenchment,  which,  mirabile  dictu,  actually  kept 
the  expenditures  of  that  city  within  its  income!  He  com- 
menced this  retrenchment  by  the  reduction  of  his  own  salary. 
Before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  as  Mayor,  he  was 
elected  Member  of  the  Twenty-eighth  Congress,  and  took 
his  seat,  accordingly,  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
1843.  Although  one  of  its  youngest  members,  he  at  once 
secured  a  high  position  in  that  body;  and  on  the  tariff 
question  advocated  a  system  of  duties  for  revenue  purposes 
only,  and  thus,  incidentally,  indorsed  the  doctrine  of  free 
trade.  On  the  question  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  he  took 
the  affirmative,  but  advised  its  postponement,  in  order  that 
Mexico  might  be  afforded  an  opportunity  to  give  her  assent, 
and  that  more  unanimity  might  be  secured  thereby,  in  favor 
of  it  in  the  United  States.  In  view  of  the  events  which 
have  since  transpired,  the  wisdom  of  this  recommendation 
must  be  admitted.  On  other  questions  of  public  policy  he 


HENRY  C.  MURPHY.  8? 

took  an  equally  prominent  position ;  and  Avith  ability  opposed 
the  alteration  of  the  naturalization  laws,  and  demonstrated 
the  inconsistency  of  such  a  measure  with  the  genius  of  our 
government,  and  its  bad  effects  on  the  settlement  of  the  pub- 
lic domain.  For  the  splendid  dry  dock  which  has  been  con- 
structed at  Wallabout  Bay,  the  port  of  New  York  is  indebted 
to  Mr.  MURPHY'S  zeal  and  perseverance. 

The  most  notable  position  in  State  politics  which  this  gen- 
tleman has  occupied,  was  that  of  member  of  the  Convention 
which  assembled  in  1846,  to  frame  a  new  Constitution  of  this 
State.  Here  he  brought  forward  several  important  provis- 
ions, some  of  which  were  eventually  incorporated  into  that 
instrument.  His  course  on  this,  as  on  most  occasions,  met 
the  approbation  of  his  constituents,  and  on  his  return  from 
the  Convention,  he  was  again  elected  to  Congress  by  the 
largest  vote  ever  polled  in  his  district. 

On  the  accession  of  Mr.  BUCHAXAX  to  the  Presidency, 
Mr.  MURPHY  received  the  appointment  of  Minister  to  the 
Hague.  Identified  as  he  had  long  been  with  the  efforts  to 
rescue  from  oblivion  the  early  history  of  our  State,  particu- 
larly that  portion  of  it  which  relates  to  its  first  colonization 
by  Holland,  the  selection  elicited  general  approval.  When 
the  rebellion  broke  out  Mr.  MURPHY  was  still  Minister  of 
the  United  States  to  the  Netherlands,  and  it  was  exceedingly 
important  at  the  time,  that  the  governments  of  Europe 
should  be  correctly  informed  of  the  precise  facts  of  the  case, 
and  of  the  real  relations  of  the  States  to  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, in  order  that  foreign  powers  might  readily  see  and 
adhere  to  their  well-established  line  of  duty.  Accordingly, 
Minister  MURPHY  addressed  to  the  government  of  the  Neth- 
erlands an  elaborate  exposition  of  that  relationship,  and 
clearly  pointed  out  the  absolute  supremacy  of  the  general 
government  in  all  matters  committed  to  it  by  the  Constitu- 

O  •/ 

tion,  and  the  equally  absolute  rights  of  the  State  over  all 
matters  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by  that  instru- 
ment. He  seized  the  opportunity  to  show,  at  the  same  time, 


88  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

that  the  rebellion  owed  its  origin  chiefly  to  sectional  hate 
and  the  ambition  of  the  leaders.  This  paper  was  printed  at 
length  in  the  diplomatic  correspondence  of  1S61  and  1862, 
and  was  highly  praised  by  men  of  both  parties.  Upon  his 
return  to  the  United  States,  he  announced  his  determination 
to  uphold  the  national  flag  against  secession,  and  was  imme- 
diately elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  State,  as  a  Union  man. 
At  the  State  Convention  of  the  Democratic  party  in  1862,  he 
was  chosen  temporary  Chairman,  and  insisted  that  all  citi- 
zens, without  distinction  of  party,  should  support  the  admin- 
istration in  putting  down  the  rebellion.  In  the  annual 
oration  before  the  Tammany  Society  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1863,  he  took  no  less  patrotic  grounds  in  behalf  of  the 
Union.  Indeed,  he  was  no  less  zealous  in  acts  than  in  words ; 
for  mainly  by  his  exertions  the  Third  Senatorial  Regiment, 
the  159th  Xew  York  State  Volunteers,  Colonel  MOLIXEUX, 
was  raised,  and  the  bounties  paid  to  the  men  without  calling 
upon  either  the  State,  city  or  county  authorities  for  that 
purpose.  Such,  in  brief,  is  the  history  of  his  action  in 
regard  to  the  rebellion. 

Mr.  MURPHY  has  taken  a  conspicuous  part  in  all  import- 
ant debates  and  discussions  during  his  long  term  of  service, 
and  particularly  distinguished  himself  in  his  efforts  to  repeal 
the  bill  in  regard  to  ecclesiastical  tenures,  and  to  establish 
the  quarantine  in  the  lower  bay  of  Xew  York— measures 
which  he  successfully  carried  through.  He.  also,  was  in 
favor  of  sustaining  the  different  internal  improvements 
throughout  the  State,  without  regard  to  the  section  where 
they  were  proposed,  provided  they  contributed  to  the  general 
prosperity.  Having  always  been  a  strict  constructionist,  Mr. 
MURPHY  voted  against  ratifying  the  amendment  to  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  abolishing  slavery.  He  holds 
that,  as  the  Federal  Government  is  one  of  delegated  powers 
exclusively,  and  as  the  subject  of  slavery  was  not  embraced 
in  the  Constitution,  and  was  to  be  disposed  of  only  by  the 
States  where  it  existed,  the  power  of  amendment  is  neces- 


HENRY  C.  MURPHY.  89 

sarily  limited  to  the  subjects  embraced  in  the  Constitution, 
and  does  not  legitimately  apply  to  that  of  abolishing 
slavery. 

Senator  MUKPHY  in  1867,  and  again  in  1869,  received  the 
nomination  for  United  States  Senator  from  the  Democratic 
members  of  the  Legislature.  He  was  a  leading  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention  held  in  1863,  and  took  a 
prominent  part  in  all  its  proceedings. 

In  debate,  Mr.  MUKPHY  generally  speaks  extemporaneously ; 
in  argument  he  is  close  and  logical ;  in  manner,  earnest  and 
apparently  severe  ;  and  when  he  warms  to  his  subject,  his- 
tory, precedent  and  analogy,  all  seem  to  rise  unbidden  to 
fortify  the  position  he  assumes.  In  private  character  he 
possesses,  in  an  eminent  degree,  all  the  essential  elements  of 
a  high-toned  gentlemen,  and  no  public  man,  we  think,  has 
passed  thus  far  through  the  trying  ordeal  of  an  extended 
legislative  career  more  free  from  the  taint  of  corruption. 
Though  eminently  a  practical  man,  taking  a  deep  and  active 
part  in  public  affairs  —  a  man  of  the  people  —  he  is  a  scholar, 
"  and  a  ripe  good  one."  To  the  gratification  of  his  scholastic 
tastes  Mr.  MURPHY  has  given  much  of  his  time  and  means. 
During  his  travels  at  home  and  abroad,  he  has  accumulated 
one  of  the  finest  private  libraries  in  America,  and  possesses 
the  full  power  to  appreciate  and  enjoy  it;  and  however 
much  he  may  win  honor  and  fame  as  a  public  spirited  citizen, 
or  a  successful  political  leader,  his  claim  as  one  of  the  lit- 
erati can  never  be  lost  sight  of.  Mr.  MURPHY'S  contribu- 
tions to  literature  are  of  a  very  valuable  character,  and 
include  a  number  of  translations  from  the  Dutch  language, 
of  which  he  is  a  perfect  master. 

He  was  elected  to  the  present  Senate  by  a  majority  of 
6,565,  and  serves  011  the  Judiciary,  Literature,  Commerce  and 
Navigation,  and  Rules  Committees. 
12 


90  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JAMES  O'BEIEN. 


Senator  JAMES  0'BniEX,  who  represents  the  Seventh 
Senatorial  district,  consisting  of  the  eighteenth,  twentieth 
and  twenty-first  wards  of  the  city  of  'New  York,  is  a  good 
illustration  of  a  topic  often  commented  upon  —  the  success 
which  pluck  and  perseverance  will  wrest  from  — 

"  Those  twin  gaolers  of  the  daring  heart, 
Low  birth  and  iron  fortune." 

Seldom  in  any  country,  beside  our  own,  can  humble  parentage 
and  the  hindrances  of  poverty  be  overcome,  and  wealth  and 
influence  be  attained.  It  is  little  wonder,  then,  that  they 
who  in  the  old  motherland  see  before  them  only  a  future  of 
dreary  toil  and  merely  nominal  wages,  seek  our  hospitable 
shores,  knowing  that  under  the  freedom  of  Kepublican 
government,  the  future  promises  all  things  to  him  who  puts 
forth  earnest  endeavor. 

JAMES  O?BRIEX  was  born  in  Moate,  Westmeath  county, 
Ireland,  and  is  now  about  thirty-three  years  of  age.  Both 
his  parents,  LA\VREXCE  O'BniEX  and  Axx  McDoxELL 
0'BniEX,  were  born  in  Dublin,  the  Emerald  island's  famous 
metropolis.  They  are  still  living  to  enjoy  the  prosperity 
which  has  attended  the  Senator  in  the  new  World.  After 
receiving  a  common  school  education,  he  immediately 
plunged  into  business.  He  was  for  many  years  a  machinist, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  blacksmith's  tools. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  great  rebellion,  he  went  to  work 
recruiting  with  a  will,  and  succeeded  in  raising  a  brigade, 
composed  for  the  most  part,  it  is  said,  of  his  personal  friends. 

For  years  the  Senator  has  been  one  of  the  most  active 
politicians  of  the  metropolis,  and  it  is  as  a  politician  that  lie 
is  best  known.  He  is  perfectly  familiar  with  all  the  crooks 
and  convolutions  which  have  marked  the  course  of  Xew 


JAMES  O'BRIEN.  91 

York  politics  during  the  past  ten  years.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  in  186o-'67,  and  Sheriff  in 
1868-'70. 

The  Senator  claims  a  lion's  share  of  the  honor  of  break- 
ing the  Tammany  ring,  and  maintains  that  for  a  time  he 
fought  that  ring  single  handed  and  alone,  not  turned  aside 
by  the  offers  of  immense  bribes,  nor  intimidated  by  the  infi- 
delity of  many  who  professed  to  be  friends. 

In  his  first  canvass  for  Alderman,  when  he  ran  on  the 
"  People's  Ticket,"  his  majority  was  so  enormous  as  to  exceed 
the  entire  vote  cast  for  his  opponent.  A  more  signal  proof 
of  popularity  was  never  bestowed  upon  a  candidate.  At  the 
present  time  the  Senator  calls  himself  a  "Conservative 
Democrat," 

He  was  elected  to  the  position  which  he  now  holds  by 
the  rousing  majority  of  13,336,  over  JOHN  J.  BRADLEY,  a 
brother-in-law  of  PETEK  B.  SWEEXEY,  who  had  been  chosen 
to  the  preceding  Senate  by  a  majority  of  6,654.  The  canvass 
Avas  a  most  exciting  one,  and  notwithstanding  an  herculean 
effort  was  put  forth  to  defeat  O'BniEX,  he  achieved  the 
great  triumph  set  forth  in  the  figures  of  his  majority. 

The  Senator  was  married  in  1863  to  Miss  McGovEBX. 
Personally,  the  Senator  is  a  most  genial  gentleman  —  one 
whose  frank,  generous  nature,  and  large  heartedness,  make 
him  a  favorite  in  many  social  circles.  Few  men  can  boast 
of  a  larger  number  of  warmly  attached  personal  friends  than 
JAMES 


92  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


ABIAH  W.   PALMER. 


The  Senator  from  the  Eleventh  District  was  born  on  the 
25th  of  January,  1835,  in  the  town  of  Amenia,  Dutchess 
county,  on  the  old  homestead,  which  has  for  many  years  been 
in  the  possession  of  the  PALMER  family,  and  on  which  Mr. 
PALMER  now  resides.  Both  of  his  parents  died  when  he  was 
still  in  his  early  childhood.  He  pursued  his  studies  at 
Amenia  Seminary,  and  afterward  at  the  Oneida  Conference 
Seminary  in  Cazenovia,  with  a  view  to  a  complete  collegiate 
course.  At  nineteen  he  entered  the  Sophomore  class  of 
Union  College;  but  in  1856  he  was  compelled  by  ill  health 
to  relinquish  his  studies,  and  seek  remedies  at  the  Clifton 
Springs'  Water  Cure,  in  which  institution  he  remained  for 
several  months.  Having  been  convinced  that  he  needed  a 
different  kind  of  treatment,  he  made  arrangements  for  a  pro- 
tracted visit  to  Europe.  Accordingly,  in  1857,  he  went 
abroad,  visiting  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent,  and  avail- 
ing himself  of  opportunities  for  acquiring  a  knowledge  of 
modern  languages. 

In  1859,  Mr.  PALMER  returned  and  resumed  the  manage- 
ment of  his  estate,  in  Amenia,  paying  particular  attention 
to  mining  for  iron  ore.  a  large  bed  of  that  metal  being  on 
his  lands.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  he  was  nominated  for 
Member  of  the  Assembly  by  the  Republican  party,  and 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  though  the  district  had,  hitherto, 
bee?i  closely  contested  by  both  parties.  It  will  be  perceived 
that  Mr.  PALMER  entered  upon  his  political  career  when  he 
was  but  little  over  twenty-four  years  old.  Up  to  that  period 
his  time  had  been  spent  as  a  student  or  in  foreign 
travel,  but  still  he  had  formed  decided  opinions  relative 
to  public  affairs,  and  been  among  the  foremost  to  indorse 
the  enduring  principles  of  universal  freedom,  which  were 
confirmed  in  his  mind,  bv  the  contrasts  which  were 


ABIAH  W.  PALMER.  93 

presented  to  his  observation,  while  in  Europe.  -Though 
among  the  youngest  Members  of  the  Assembly,  he  held 
an  honorable  and  prominent  place  in  that  body,  and 
commanded  respect  because  he  had  the  integrity  to  resist 
the  overtures  of  corrupt  schemers.  The  following  year 
he  was  unanimously  re-nominated  for  the  Assembly,  but, 
in  consequence  of  ill-health,  he  was  compelled  to  decline. 
He  thereupon  withdrew  from  politics  and  gave  his  attention 
to  his  private  business  and  the  restoration  of  his  health.  In 
1865  he  again  accepted  the  nomination  for  the  Assembly, 
and  was  elected  by  the  largest  majority  ever  given  by  his 
district.  His  talents  received  just  recognition  from  the 
Speaker,  who  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  committees  of 
Ways  and  Means,  and  Revision  and  Rules.  While  serving 
on  the  former  committee  his  attention  was  called  to  the 
necessity  of  making  provision  for  the  better  accommodation 
of  the  insane.  He  succeeded  in  effecting  the  enactment  of 
a  law  authorizing  the  Governor  to  appoint  Commissioners 
to  select  a  site  for  a  new  asylum  for  them.  The  follow- 
ing summer  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  FENTON  as 
Chairman  of  that  Board.  He  devoted  nearly  the  whole  of 
his  attention  during  the  ensuing  season  to  the  selection  of  a 
proper  site,  and  strenuously  urged  upon  the  inhabitants,  at 
different  points  along  the  Hudson  river,  to  make  proposals 
for  having  the  institution  located  in  their  localities.  The 
city  of  Poughkeepsie  offered  the  most  liberal  and  desira- 
ble inducements  for  the  purpose  in  question;  and  conse- 
quently the  Commissioners  decided  to  establish  the  asylum 
at  that  place.  Thereupon  a  splendid  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  affording  one  of  the  most  beautiful  sites  on  the  Hud- 
son, was  purchased,  costing  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie  and  the 
remainder  of  Dutchess  county  885,000. 

During  that  year  Mr.  PALMER  was  again  renominated, 
but  his  delicate  health  compelled  him  to  resign  the  candi- 
dacy. During  the  session  of  the  Legislature  of  1866,  he 
presented  the  report  of  the  Oommissioners  relative  to  their 


94  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

action,  and  procured  the  passage  of  an  act,  accepting  the 
site,  on  the  part  of  the  State,  and  also  an  act  for  the  establish- 
ment and  organization  of  the  Hudson  River  State  Hospital 
for  the  Insane,  and  secured  the  appropriation  of  $100,000 
with  which  to  commence  work  upon  the  building.  Under 
this  act  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  managers,  on  behalf  of 
the  State,  for  the  consummation  of  the  plans ;  and  was,  sub- 
sequently, elected  President  of  the  Board  of  Managers.  This 
honor  was  justly  deserved,  for  Mr.  PALMER  had  initiated, 
and  done  much  toward  perfecting  one  of  the  most  benevo- 
lent and  humane  charities  dispensed  by  the  State  of  New 
York.  In  fact,  the  accomplishment  of  this  beneficent  pur- 
pose was  the  master-good  which  he  desired  to  have  conferred 
upon  suffering  humanity ;  and  he  entered  into  the  work 
actuated  by  sympathy  for  the  unfortunate,  and  by  motives 
of  an  exalted  charity.  The  time  will  come  when  many, 
having  emerged  from  the  terrors  of  disordered  minds,  will 
have  cause  to  be  grateful  for  the  impulses  which  prompted 
Mr.  PALMER  in  his  devotion  to  this  project. 

In  1867  Mr.  PALMER  was  unanimously  nominated  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  State  Senator  for  the  eleventh  dis- 
trict, composed  of  Dutchess  and  Columbia  counties.  The 
result  showed  his  great  popularity  ;  for  although  his  district 
gave  the  Democratic  State  ticket  nearly  two  hundred 
majority,  yet  Mr.  PALMER  was  elected'by  nearly  seven  hun- 
dred majority.  In  the  Senate  he  was  Chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Bunks  and  Charitable  and  Religious  Societies,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  committees  on  Municipal  Affairs  and 
Agriculture. 

There  was  virtually  no  opposition  to  the  Senator's  election 
to  the  present  Senate.  His  majority  of  8,572  was  a  deserved 
compliment  to  his  conspicuous  popularity,  and  indicated 
that  he  received  a  large  number  of  votes  from  his  political 
opponents.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  the  purest  character  and 
blameless  record ;  no  man  ever  came  out  of  the  legislative 
halls  with  a  more  spotless  reputation.  He  commands  the 


ABIAH  W.  PALMER.  95 

entire  respect  of  political  adversaries  as  well  as  political 
friends,  and  his  genial  personal  qualities  have  combined  with 
his  untarnished  reputation  to  secure  for  him  a  popularity 
and  appreciation  not  bounded  by  party  lines. 

Senator  PALMER  supported  Mr.  GREELEY  for  President,  in 
the  late  campaign,  and  on  the  occasion  of  a  nomination  by 
the  Senate  of  a  candidate  for  United  States  Senator,  he  took 
occasion  to  define  and  explain  his  political  position  in  the 
following  remarks :  Asking  to  be  excused  from  voting,  he 
said : 

Mr.  PRESIDENT  :  As  my  Eepublican  associates  in  the  Sen- 
ate have  denied  me  the  courtesy  of  an  invitation  to  the  cau- 
cuses of  my  party,  and  I  have  be.en  assigned  positions  on 
committees  as  if  I  were  a  Democrat,  it  is  perhaps  due  to  myself 
and  to  my  constituents  that  I  should  briefly  explain  my 
course  at  this  time.  In  the  late  campaign  I  should  have 
voted  for  HORACE  GREELEY  for  President  had  not  sickness 
detained  me  in  a  distant  State  on  the  day  of  election.  It  is 
unnecessary  on  this  occasion  for  me  to  speak  of  my  personal 
relations  with  Mr.  GREELEY,  or  refer  to  the  warmth  of  the 
friendship  which  had  so  long  existed  between  us.  I  will 
only  say  that  I  deemed  him  a  better  exponent  of  Republican 
principles  than  Gen.  GRANT. 

The  fact  that  Democrats  supported  Mr.  GREELEY  upon  a 
Eepublican  platform  did  not  frighten  me;  nor  did  I  become 
the  less  a  Republican  by  my  course.  The  great  body  of  rny 
party  decided  that  its  regular  nominee  should  be  intrusted 
with  the  government  of  the  country  for  another  term.  I 
sincerely  trust  that  its  confidence  will  prove  well  deserved. 
The  Republican  State  ticket  I  took  pleasure  in  supporting 
not  only  on  account  of  the  personnel  of  the  nominees,  but 
because  I  had  no  ground  for  difference  with  my  party  upon 
State  questions.  Now,  Mr.  President,  I  recognize  the  fact 
that  the  same  voice  which,  in  this  State,  pronounced  in  favor 
of  GRANT  and  Dix  was  equally  emphatic  for  ROSCOE  CONK- 
LING,  for  United  States  Senator,  and  I  have  no  personal  rea- 
sons for  preferring  any  other  Republican  for  that  office. 

I  have  not  always  considered  Senator  CONKLING'S  course 
as  conciliatory  us  I  could  have  desired,  but  for  many  years  our 
relations  have  been  extremely  cordial.  I  esteem  him  as  a 
friend,  and  admire  him  for  his  ability  and  undoubted  integf- 


96  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

rity.  Yet  I  am  told  that  some  of  the  Senator's  friends  have 
sought  to  read  me  out  of  the  party,  as  if  any  power  but 
myself  could  decide  to  what  party  I  belong ;  and  an  indignity 
has  been  offered  to  my  Kepublican  constituents  in  denying 
them  Republican  representation. 

A  not  unnatural  pride  would  suggest  that  I  should  seek 
welcome  elsewhere;  but  the  truest  self-respect  enjoins 
adherence  to  my  principles.  By  conviction  and  education 
I  am  a  Republican,  and  such  I  must  remain.  As  a  member 
of  this  body  I  shall  do  nothing  to  defeat  the  purposes  of 
those  who  elected  me;  and  in  casting  this  important  vote, 
I  feel  bound  to  recognize  the  wishes  of  the  party  which  has 
so  often  honored  me  with  its  support. 

The  two  candidates  nominated  by  caucuses  in  which  I  did 
not  participate,  are  CHAKLES  W.  WHEATON,  of  Dutchess 
county,  one  of  the  most  able  and  pure-minded  men  in  this 
State/ but  a  life-long  Democrat;  and  ROSCOE  CONKLING, 
the  finished  scholar,  ripe  statesman,  and  patriotic  Republican. 

Bowing  to  no  dictation  but  the  convictions  of  my  own 
conscience,  I  withdraw  my  request  to  be  excused  from  voting, 
and  cast  my  vote  for  ROSCOE  COXKLIXG. 


JOHN  C.  PERRY. 


The  second  Senatorial  district  is  represented  by  JOHN 
CYRUS  PERRY,  of  Brooklyn.  He  was  born  in  Forrestburg, 
Sullivan  county,  April  21,  1832,  and  was  educated  at  the 
academy  in  Monticello,  in  that  county ;  when  seventeen 
years  of  age  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Hon.  ALPHEUS 
DIMMICK,  then  Judge  and  Surrogate  of  the  county,  and  one 
of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  of  that  section,  with  whom  he 
studied  law  two  years,  and  then  entered  the  law  school  at 
Ballston,  Saratoga  county,  X.  Y.,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  was  admitted  as  attorney  and  counselor  of  the 
supreme  court  at  Albany,  being  then  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  Immediately  thereafter  he  opened  an  office,  and  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law  in  Kingston,  lister  county.  On 


JOHN  C.  PERRY.  97 

the  1st  of  January,  1854,  he  was  appointed  Assistant  District 
Attorney  for  that  county  by  JOHN  LYON,  District  Attorney, 
and  officiated  in  that  capacity  for  three  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1855  he  was  nominated  for  County  Judge  by  the  Whig 
county  convention,  but  declined  the  nomination  to  disem- 
barrass the  Kepublican  cause  which  had  been  inaugurated 
that  fall  for  the  first  time  in  his  county.  In  the  fall  of 
1856  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  for  Dis- 
trict Attorney  of  Ulster,  but  was  defeated  in  the  election 
by  the  nominee  of  the  Know-nothing  party.  Eemoving  to 
Brooklyn  in  the  fall  of  1857,  he  commenced  the  practice  of 
law  in  the  city  of  New  York;  in  1861  he  was  nominated,  in 
Brooklyn,  for  Assembly  on  the  straight  Republican  ticket, 
but  was  defeated  by  CHARLES  L.  BENEDICT,  the  present 
United  States  District  Judge  for  the  Eastern  district,  Avho  ran 
on  a  union  ticket,  which  was  nominated  and  supported  by 
the  Democratic  and  a  portion  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
was  again  nominated  for  Assembly  in  1863  by  the  Republican 
party,  and  elected  ;  and  renominated  and  elected  to  the  same 
position  by  the  same  party  in  the  fall  of  1864.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  committee  on  Cities  in  the  Assembly  in  1864 
and  1865,  and  Chairman  of  that  committee  during  the 
latter  year,  and  one  of  the  notable  legislative  acts  with 
which  that  committee  is  identified  is  the  act  which  inaugu- 
rated the  present  paid  Fire  Department  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  The  bill,  after  a  most  exciting  and  bitter  contest,  was 
reported  favorably  by  a  majority  of  the  committee,  and  during 
the  session  (1865),  it  was  passed  and  became  a  law.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  on  returning  from  Albany  he  received  the 
appointment  from  the  Hon.  B.  D.  SILLIMAJST,  District  Attor- 
ney for  the  Eastern  district  of  the  United  States,  as  Assistant 
District  Attorney  for  that  district;  and  held  that  position 
until  May  1,  1866,  when  he  resigned  and  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  the  city  of  New  York,  refraining  absolutely 
after  that  date  from  any  participation  in  politics  until  the 
fall  of  1871,  when  he  was  tendered  by  the  Republican  Con- 
7 


98  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

vention  the  unanimous  nomination  for  Senator  for  the 
Second  district,  and  having  accepted  it,  was  elected  by  a 
majority  of  1,968  over  JAMES  F.  PIERCE,  his  Democratic 
opponent,  who  had  been  elected  to  the  preceding  Senate  by 
a  majority  of  1,351.  Mr.  PERRY  ran  ahead  of  the  Republi- 
can  State  ticket  about  1,000  votes. 

The  Senator  was  brought  prominently  before  the  public 
last  year  as  Chairman  of  the  Select  Committee  appointed  to 
investigate  the  charges  brought  against  the  late  Clerk  of  the 
Senate.  He  is  at  the  head  of  the  important  committee  on 
Insurance,  and,  also,  of  Privileges  and  Elections,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  committee  on  Cities.  Xo  Senator  around  the 
circle  commands  in  a  higher  degree  the  respect  of  his  asso- 
ciates than  Senator  PERRY.  A  ready  and  finished  debater, 
always  cool  and  collected,  he  delivers  what  he  has  to  say  in  a 
simple,  direct  manner,  and  rarely  fails  to  carry  his  point. 
Added  to  his  capacity  and  ability  as  a  legislator  are  fine  social 
gifts,  which  render  him  popular  among  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact. 


WILLIAM  H.   ROBERTSON. 


The  ninth  Senatorial  district,  consisting  of  the  counties 
of  Putnam.  Eockland  and  Westchester,  is  represented  by 
WILLIAM  H.  ROBERTSON,  of  Katonah,  Westchester  county, 
one  of  the  most  able  and  dignified  members  of  the  present 
Senate.  He  was  born  at  Bedford,  in  the  county  in  which  he 
now  resides,  October  10,  1823.  His  father,  HENRY  ROBERT- 
SON, who  was  born  in  1791,  at  Bedford,  is  still  living.  After 
pursuing  his  preliminary  studies  at  Union  Academy,  Bed- 
ford, he  read  law,  and  in  1847,  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

The  Senator  has  had  a  long  and  honorable  career  as  a 
public  man.  The  confidence  so  often  reposed  in  him  by  the 
people  has  never  been  violated  :  the  interests  committed  to 


WILLIAM  H.  ROBERTSON.  99 

his  hands  never  neglected.  Beginning  as  Town  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Bedford  Common  Schools,  he  subsequently 
served  for  four  years  as  Supervisor,  and  on  two  occasions  was 
Chairman  of  the  Board  —  the  only  Republican  who  ever  held 
that  position.  Eising  rapidly  in  his  profession,  he  was 
early  elected  County  Judge  of  Westchester ,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  for  three  terms,  twelve  years. 

His  experience  as  a  legislator  has  been  long  and  varied. 
He  represented  "Westchester  county  in  the  Assembly,  in 
1849  and  1850;  and  the  ninth  Senatorial  district  in  the 
Senate  of  1854-55.  Later  he  was  a  Representative  in  the 
fortieth  Congress.  In  politics  Mr.  ROBEKTSON  is  a  Repre- 
sentative Republican,  and  has  long  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  organization  of  his  choice.  Until  the  year 
1855  he  was  a  Whig,  and  since  that  date  has  given  his  vote 
and  influence  to  the  party  to  which  he  now  belongs.  For 
three  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Com- 
mittee, and  in  1864  attended  the  Republican  National  Con- 
vention as  a  Delegate.  He  has  also  on  many  occasions 
attended  the  Whig  and  Republican  State  Conventions  as 
Delegate. 

The  Senator  did  efficient  service  during  the  late  war.  He 
was  Chairman  of  the  Military  Committee  appointed  by 
Governor  MORGAX,  in  1862,  to  raise  and  organize  State 
troops  in  the  Eighth  Senatorial  district.  Later  on,  he  filled  the 
important  position  of  Commissioner  to  superintend  the  draft 
in  Westchester  county,  under  an  appointment  of  the 
Governor.  For  six  years  he  was  Brigade  Inspector  of  the 
Seventh  Brigade,  New  York  State  National  Guard. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Senate  by  a  most  nattering  vote. 
Running  in  a  strong  Democratic  district,  his  defeat  would 
have  been  a  matter  of  course  had  he  not  been  conspicuous  for 
his  great  ability,  and  as  popular  as  he  was  worthy.  As  it 
was,  he  received  a  handsome  majority  in  every  town  of  West- 
Chester,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  Rockland  and  Putnam 
counties  as  well  — his  total  majority  being  5,851  over  WIL- 


100  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

LIAM  CAULDWELL,  who  had  been  chosen  to  the  preceding 
Senate  by  a  majority  of  2,274. 

Last  fall  the  Senator's  name  was  among  the  foremost  of 
those  presented  at  the  Utica  Convention  for  Governor.  As 
soon  as  it  was  found  that  General  Dix  would  accept  the 
nomination,  it  was  withdrawn  in  the  interest  of  harmony  — 
the  friends  of  the  Senator  thinking,  probably  that  being  yet  a 
young  man  their  candidate  could  afford  to  wait. 

In  presenting  his  name  to  the  convention,  Mr.  CHARLES 
E.  SMITH,  editor  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal — cogent 
alike  with  tongue  and  pen  —  spoke  as  follows : 

Mr.  PRESIDENT:  I  rise  to  discharge  a  duty  which  has 
been  intrusted  tome,  and  to  present  for  the  office  of  Governor 
a  gentleman  whose  name,  I  am  sure,  will  commend  itself 
wherever  tried  and  true  men  are  honored.  In  common  with 
many  others,  I  came  here  desirous  of  supporting  for  this 
office  the  distinguished  citizen  and  soldier,  Gen.  JOHN"  A. 
Dix.  But  it  has  been  stated  that  in  deference  to  his 
expressed  wish,  his  name  is  not  to  be  offered.  Under  such 
circumstances  the  delegation  from  Albany  have  determined 
to  cast  their  vote  for  another  eminent  citizen,  whose  name  I 
am  instructed  to  submit  to  the  convention. 

I  present  the  name  of  one  who  has,  from  the  first,  been  con- 
ceded to  be  peculiarly  fitted  for  the  chief  magistracy  of  the 
State,  and  to  whom  the  eyes  of  many  are  now  turning  as  our 
proper  standard-bearer.  I  present  one  whose  record  is  his 
sufficient  argument,  whose  career  is  his  best  advocate,  and 
whose  strength  and  popularity,  whose  worth  and  worthiness 
will  be  best  attested  when  I  name  the  name  of  Hon.  WIL- 
LIAM H.  ROBERTSON,  of  Westchester.  [Great  cheering.] 

Sir,  that  response,  thrilling  through  this  convention,  speaks 
its  sentiment  of  respect  better  than  any  words  could  do. 
It  shows  that  these  representatives  of  the  great  and  noble 
Republican  party  of  New  York,  from  Montauk  Point  to  Lake 
Erie,  know  and  appreciate  the  exalted  character,  the  signal 
ability,  and  the  eminent  merits  of  Judge  ROBERTSON.  Many 
years  Supervisor  of  his  town ;  two  years  Chairman  of  the  board, 
through  his  personal  popularity,  the  board  being  politically 
opposed  to  him ;  twelve  years  Judge  of  his  county,  always 
overcoming  an  adverse  political  majority  of  thousands ;  twice 


WILLIAM  T.  SCORESBY.  101 

a  member  of  the  Assembly;  twice  a  member  of  Congress; 
twice  a  State. Senator,  elected  the  last  time  in  a  strong  Demo- 
cratic district  by  a  majority  of  nearly  six  thousand,  and 
running  over  four  thousand  ahead  of  his  ticket  even  in  the 
whirlwind  by  which  we  swept  the  State  last  year  —  what 
more  need  be  said  to  show  that  he  would  be  a  worthy  and 
popular  standard-bearer  to  lead  us  on  to  victory.  [Applause.] 
His  personal  fitness  is  as  conspicuous  as  his  popularity.  A 
judge  without  a  stigma ;  a  legislator  without  a  stain ;  a  safe, 
wise  and  judicious  leader;  an  earnest  and  zealous  friend  of 
reform;  a  Republican  whose  heart  beats  with  the  truest 
Republican  principles  and  impulses ;  a  Chevalier  Bayard, 
without  fear  or  reproach  —  he  would  be  as  trusty  a  Governor 
as  he  would  be  strong  a  candidate.  [Applause.]  I  may  be 
allowed,  sir,  to  speak  especially  for  the  young  men.  There  is 
a  wise  old  maxim,  "  Old  men  for  counsel,  and  young  men  for 
action."  Since  these  elders  in  the  councils  of  the  Republi- 
can party  have  pointed  us  the  way  to  victory,  we  of  the 
younger  blood  gladly  accept  your  judgment,  and  promise, 
that,  with  Judge  ROBERTSON"  as  our  candidate,  we  will  enter 
the  canvass  knowing  no  such  word  as  fail.  *  * 

With  any  such  candidate  as  we  are  likely  to  nominate,  we 
shall  triumph,  and,  with  Judge  ROBERTSON,  we  shall  surely 
win.  Nominate  him,  and  we  shall  go  forward  to  victory  in 
the  State  and  in  the  nation.  For  it  may  be  truly  said  of  him, 
as  was  said  of  Gen.  GRANT  :  "  He  never  has  been  beaten, 
and  he  never  can  be." 


WILLIAM  T.  SCORESBY. 


The  SCORESBY  family  is  one  of  note  in  England.  Capt. 
WILLIAM  SCORESBY,  the  grandfather  of  the  Senator,  was 
born  in  Cropton,  England,  in  1700.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen he  apprenticed  himself  as  a  seaman,  and  ten  years 
later  was  in  command  of  a  Greenland  whaleship.  in  which 
capacity  he  made  thirty  voyages  to  the  Arctic  seas.  Xot 
only  his  success  in  his  legitimate  calling,  but  the  great 
importance  of  his  explorations  and  discoveries  in  those 
regions  gave  him  great  celebrity.  He  became  an  authority 


102  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

on  all  matters  connected  with  Arctic  navigation.  His  obser- 
vations and  conclusions  on  this  subject  were* of  great  ser- 
vice to  the  cause  of  science.  He  had  also  a  genius  for  inven- 
tion, and  made  and  suggested  many  improvements  in  con- 
nection with  his  professional  occupation.  He  died  in  1828. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  SCOKESBY'S  son,  Rev.  WM.  SCORESBY, 
D.  D.,  took  up  his  father's  profession,  and  for  many  years 
was  engaged  in  the  whaling  business.  During  this  period 
he  was  carrying  on  a  series  of  investigations  regarding  the 
laws  of  magnetism,  and  communicating  the  results  to  the 
scientific  world  in  papers  of  great  value.  Retiring  from  the 
sea  he  entered  the  church  and  rose  to  eminence  as  a  divine. 
Meantime  he  pursued  his  inquiries  into  scientific  subjects 
and  became  one  of  the  leading  savans  of  his  day.  He  visited 
Australia  as  a  member  of  a  scientific  commission  ordered  by 
the  English  government.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Societies  of  Edinburgh  and  London,  of  the  Institute  of 
France,  and  of  the  American  Institute,  Philadelphia.  He 
visited  this  country  twice,  once  in  1844  and  again  in  1847-48. 
His  death  occurred  in  1857. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  SCORESBY'S  daughter  Mary  married  Mr. 
JOHX  CLARK,  of  Whitby,  England,  who  was  largely  engaged 
in  the  iron  trade.  Upon  his  death  in  1834,  Mrs.  CLARK 
succeeded  to  the  management  of  his  business.  From  then 
to  the  present,  hers  has  been  among  the  heaviest  establish- 
ments in  England,  doing  a  large  mining  and  manufacturing 
business,  of  which  she  has  the  sole  direction.  Her  corres- 
pondence is  immense,  and  her  transactions  are  colossal. 

Another  daughter  of  Capt.  WILLIAM  SCORESBY,  Arabella, 
married  Capt.  THOMAS  JACKSOX,  a  shipping  merchant  of 
Whitby.  Mrs.  JACKSOX  is  the  mother  of  the  late  Prof.  R.  E. 
SCORESBY  JACKSOX,  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  whose 
brilliant  talents  gave  promise  of  great  distinction.  His 
death  in  January,  I860,  was  regarded  as  a  great  public  loss. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  SCOKESBY'S  sou,  Thomas,  the  father  of 
Senator  SCORESBY,  was  born  in  York,  England,  in  1804. 


WILLIAM  T.  SCOKESBY.  103 

He  made  four  voyages  with  his  father  to  the  Arctic  Seas, 
between  1819  and  1822.  In  the  intervals  between  these  voy- 
ages, he  studied  medicine,  and  took  his  degree  at  the  Royal 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  Edinburgh  in  1825. 
In  the  same  year  he  married  Louisa,  daughter  of  Capt. 
GEORGE  RICHARDSON,  of  London. 

Mrs.  SCORESBY  was  born  in  London  in  1804,  and  is  still 
living  with  her  son,  the  Senator.  Dr.  THOMAS  SCORESBY 
practiced  medicine  at  Whitby  and  Doucaster  till  1834,  when 
he  emigrated  to  America.  He  located  first  at  Port  Jervis, 
Orange  county,  and  then  at  Fallsburgh,  Sullivan  county, 
whence  in  1865  he  removed  to  Ellenville,  Ulster  county, 
where  he  died  in  1866. 

Senator  SCORESBY  was  born  in  Fallsburgh,  Sullivan 
county,  January  2,  1840.  He  received  only  an  academic 
education,  chiefly  at  the  Ellenville  High  School,  under  the 
tuition  of  the  late  Prof.  S.  A.  LAW  POST.  Leaving  there,  he 
studied  medicine  under  his  father's  direction,  and  graduated 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  corner  23d  street 
and  4th  avenue,  New  York,  in  March,  1864.  In  1865,  he 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Ellenville,  where  he 
at  present  resides.  As  a  practitioner,  Dr.  SCORESBY  has  been 
decidedly  successful.  He  is  enthusiastic,  patient,  thorough, 
and  deeply  in  love  with  his  profession.  But  few  of  the 
younger  members  of  the  fraternity  have  given  to  the  public 
stronger  pledges  of  eminence  than  he.  How  far  his  digres- 
sion into  politics  will  serve  to  vitiate  these  promises  remains 
to  be  seen. 

Until  now  he  has  not  been  diverted  from  professional 
work,  except  by  occasional  visits  to  England,  whither  family 
affairs  have  several  times  called  him. 

Senator  SCORESBY  is  a  new  comer  in  the  political  field. 
His  neighbors  have  repeatedly  intrusted  him  with  the 
management  of  their  public  affairs,  but  except  in  these  home 
matters,  he  has  never  sought  nor  held  office  until  now.  In 
politics  lie  has  always  held  and  acted  with  the  Republicans 


104  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

till  in  the  late  Presidential  canvass,  when  he  sided  with  the 
Liberal  Republicans.  They  made  him  a  delegate  to  their. 
State  convention  at  Syracuse,  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and  subse- 
quently they  nominated  him  to  the  Senatorship  of  the  14th 
district,  then  vacated  by  the  death  of  Hon.  JACOB  HARDER- 
BURGH.  The  nomination  was  also  indorsed  and  adopted  by 
the  Democratic  Senatorial  Convention,  and  at  the  election. 
November  5,  1872,  Dr.  SCORESBY  was  elected  by  a  vote  of 
11,873;  against  11,864  cast  for  his  competitor,  JOHN  SANDER- 
SOX,  Esq.,  of  Greene  county.  The  Senator  regards  his  present 
position  as,  on  the  whole,  an  independent  one.  While  recog- 
nizing the  fact  that  he  is  in  honor  bound  not  to  betray  the 
trust  of  those  who  have  given  him  his  position,  he  still  thinks 
that  party  ties  sit  loosely  upon  him.  The  stuff  that  is  in  him 
is  not  good  to  make  "  rings  "  of. 

Senator  SCORESBY  was  married  January  29,  1867,  to  Miss 
LILLIE  ERNHOUT,  a  daughter  of  Capt,  JOHN  ERNHOUT,  of 
Sandburgh,  Sullivan  Co.  Mrs.  S.  died  suddenly,  September 
17,  1867,  while  her  husband  was  absent  in  England.  In 
religious  matters  Dr.  SCORESBY  holds  "  orthodox  "  views,  and 
at  home  is  an  attendant  upon  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church, 
of  which  his  mother  and  sisters  are  members. 


DANIEL  F.  TIEMANN. 


Senator  and  ex-Mayor  TIEMANN  was  born  in  New  York  city 
on  the  9th  of  January,  1805.  His  father,  I.  ANTHONY  TIE- 
MANN,  was  a  native  of  Germany,  and  his  mother,  MARY 
NEWELL  TIEMANN,  of  Massachusetts.  She  came  to  New 
York  in  her  childhood  and  resided  there  the  remainder  of 
her  life. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  educated  at  a  private  semi- 
nary, which  used  to  stand,  in  the  days  of  old  New  York,  on 
Broadway  at  its  junction  with  Twenty-second  street.  His 
preceptor  was  E.  WHITXEY.  father  of  JAMES  R.  WHITNEY. 


DANIEL  F.  TIEMANN.  105 

On  leaving  school,  and  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen,  he  entered 
the  drug  establishment  of  Shieffelin  &  Co.,  where  he  remained 
for  six  years.  On  reaching  his  twentieth  year  he  was  taken 
into  business  by  his  father  and  uncle,  who  were  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  paints  and  colors.  He  is  still  in  the 
same  business  and  same  establishment  as  the  one  in  which  he 
started,  and  stands  to-day  the  head  of  the  oldest,  and  one  of 
the  largest,  manufactories  of  paints  and  colors  in  the  country. 
The  Senator  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  a  Democrat  in 
the  best  sense  of  the  word — one  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the 
people.  No  public  man  has  a  clearer  record  than  DANIEL 
F.  TIEMANN.  His  official  life  commenced  in  1838  when  he 
\vas  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen, 
for  the  Sixteenth  ward.  In  1839-40  he  represented  the  same 
ward  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  In  1851  he  was  the  Assist- 
ant Alderman  of  the  Twelfth  ward,  and  in  1852-53  the 
Alderman  of  the  same  ward.  This  long  term  of  alderman ic 
service  enabled  Mr.  TIEMANN"  to  become  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  municipal  affairs  of  New  York,  and  the 
science  of  practical  government.  In  the  fall  of  1857  he  was 
a  contestant  against  FERNANDO  WOOD,  the  Tammany  candi- 
date for  the  mayoralty,  and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority. 
He  held  the  office  of  Mayor  for  two  years,  and  discharged 
its  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  showing  him- 
self a  brave,  hard-working  and  incorruptible  administra- 
tor at  the  head  of  the  city  government,  influenced  only 
by  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the 
people.  Mr.  TIEMANN  was  for  along  time  very  prominently 
identified  with  the  school  interest  of  New  York.  In  1852  he 
became  a  Trustee  of  Public  Schools  and  held  the  position 
until  the  School  Society  dissolved,  when  he  was  made  Com- 
missioner of  its  successor.  He  also  held  from  1840  to  1850, 
by  election  in  the  new  Public  School  Board,  the  office  of 
Inspector.  During  the  years  1854.  '55,  '56,  he  was  one  of  the 
Governors  of  the  Alms-house.  In  this  lust-mentioned  posi- 
tion, as  in  all  others  which  he  has  held,  he  exhibited  a  sincere 


106  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

desire  to  discharge  the  trust  committed  to  him  to  the  best  of 
his  ability.  It  is  said  that  while  he  continued  Governor  of 
the  Alms-house,  he  scarcely  ever  failed  to  visit  the  institu- 
tions on  the  islands  at  least  two  or  three  times  every  week. 

After  a  retirement  of  over  ten  years  from  official  life,  he 
was  once  more  called  to  public  service  as  a  representative  of 
that  Reform  spirit,  which  of  late  has  swept  so  resistlessly 
over  this  State,  dominated  as  a  Reform  Democrat,  against 
HENRY  W.  GENET,  Tammany's  choice,  the  people  of  his 
district  rallied  so  enthusiastically  to  his  support  that,  not- 
withstanding his  opponent  had  been  elected  to  the  preceding 
Senate  by  a  majority  of  7,901,  Mayor  TIEMAXX  defeated 
him,  and  was  chosen  to  represent  the  Eighth  Senatorial  dis- 
trict by  a  majority  of  4,663. 

Mr.  TIEMANX  is  one  of  the  marked  men  of  the  Senate. 
Bluff,  direct  and  unconventional,  he  is  careless  of  parliamen- 
tary usages,  and  in  appreciative  of  the  beauties  of  JEFFER- 
sox's  Manual.  But  all  the  same  he  makes  a  good  Senator 
—  a  legislator  who  is  incorruptible,  hard-working  and  potent 
with  his  fellows.  His  speeches  lack  grace  and  finish,  but 
they  never  lack  force  or  common  sense. 

Mr.  TIEMAXX  was  married  in  1826  to  Miss  MARTHA  W. 
CLOWES,  a  neice  of  PETER  COOPER.  He  has  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters. 


WEBSTER  WAGNER.  107 


WEBSTER  WAGNER. 


WEBSTER  WAGNER,  to  whom,  in  the  present  Senate,  the 
interests  of  the  fifteenth  Senatorial  district  are  committed, 
is  descended  from  German  parents,  and  was  born  at  Palatine 
Bridge,  Montgomery  county,  this  State,  where  he  still 
resides,  in  the  year  1817.  After  receiving  a  common  school 
education,  he  was  apprenticed  to  his  brother  James  to  learn 
the  trade  of  wagon  and  carriage  building.  His  apprentice 
ship  ended,  and  a  good  knowledge  of  the  business  acquired, 
he  continued  to  devote  himself  to  wagon  and  carriage 
making  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1845  he  received  the 
appointment  of  station  agent  at  Palatine  Bridge  for  the 
U  tica  and  Schenectady  Eailroad,  a  position  which  he  occu- 
pied until  the  year  1860. 

AVhile  acting  as  station  agent,  and  watching  the  trains 
coming  and  going,  he  proposed  to  himself  a  problem,  the 
successful  solution  of  which  has  done  so  much  for  the  com- 
fort of  the  traveling  public,  and  made  the  name  of  WEBSTER 
WAGNER  well  known  all  over  the  country.  The  Senator 
would,  doubtless,  shrink  from  being  designated  by  that 
much  abused  term  "philanthropist,"  and  yet  if  love  for 
one's  fellow  men  is  to  be  inferred  from  benefits  conferred  on 
them,  it  is  difficult  to  see  why  he  should  not  in  all  justice  be 
named  a  philanthropist  in  virtue  of  his  Wagner  Palace  Cars. 

With  the  appearance  of  the  sleeping  and  drawing-room 
car  as  part  of  the  regular  railway  train,  the  comfort  and  con- 
venience of  travel  was  increased  an  hundred  fold.  Looking 
back  a  few  years  to  the  order  of  things  that  then  prevailed, 
we  wonder  how  it  was  that  we  ever  rested  contented  with  the 
old  time  unsightly  and  uncomfortable  cars.  In  virtue  of  the 
improvements,  of  which  Mr.  WAGNER  was  one  of  the  pioneers, 
the  terror  of  railroad  traveling  lias  been  removed,  and  now, 
seated  in  a  drawing-room  car.  or  reposing  in  a  sleeping-car, 


108  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

one  approximates  very  nearly  to  the  comfort  and  ease  of  a 
well-appointed  home. 

Mr.  WAGXER  was  one  of  the  original  inventors,  and  the 
first  to  put  in  operation  the  drawing-room  and  sleeping-cars 
which  have  grown  to  be  a  necessity  with  those  who  travel  by 
rail.  His  long  experience  at  wagon  and  carriage  building 
enabled  him  to  proceed  unerringly  with  his  plans  for  an 
easy-riding  car,  while  his  taste  and  judgment  suggested  the 
proper  interior  arrangements.  The  result  of  his  labors  in 
this  regard  was  first  made  manifest  on  the  1st  of  September, 
1858,  when  he  introduced  the  first  sleeping-car  on  the  Utica 
and  Schenectady  Eailroad.  This  effort  proved  eminently  suc- 
cessful, and  encouraged  him  to  still  farther  exertions  in  the 
same  direction.  Having  provided  the  means  of  accommoda- 
tion and  comfort  for  those  who  journeyed  by  night,  he  set 
himself  to  work  in  the  interest  of  day  passengers.  Consum- 
mate skill,  joined  to  great  energy  and  perseverance,  compassed 
the  desired  object,  and  on  the  20th  day  of  August,  1867,  he 
presented  to  an  admiring  and  delighted  public  the  first  draw- 
ing-room car  that  was  ever  built  in  America. 

These  drawing-room  or  palace  cars  have  introduced  an 
entirely  new  element  of  pleasure  into  traveling  in  the  United 
States,  have  indeed  reduced  it  to  a  fine  art.  Taking  one  of 
these  magnificent  conveyances  in  New  York  on  Monday,  a 
pleasure-seeker  can  find  himself  in  San  Francisco  in  a  week, 
not  the  least  fatigued  by  travel  or  otherwise,  and  scarcely 
less  fresh  than  when  he  popped  his  head  out  at  Spuyten 
Duyvil  creek. 

The  first  sleeping-car  that  was  ever  built  in  America  and 
used  by  Mr.  WAGNER,  cost  but  83,000,  whereas  those  used 
nowadays  cost  816,000  to  820,000  each.  The  difference  in  the 
figures  representing  the  progress  made  in  railway  comfort 
and  accommodation  since  1857.  Mr.  WAGXER  has  now 
forty-nine  drawing-room  cars  in  active  use,  each  of  which 
cost  near  upon  815,000. 

The  WAGXER  Sleeping  Car  Company  are  now  running 


WEBSTER  WAGNER.  109 

sixty  sleeping  cars,  which  cost  three-quarters  of  a  million 
dollars. 

Senator  WAGNER'S  legislative  career  commenced  in  1871, 
when  he  was  sent  to  the  Assembly  from  Montgomery  county. 
Running  with  the  odds  against  him  he  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority,  his  vote  being  much  ahead  of  that  given 
to  the  general  Republican  ticket.  He  served  on  the  com- 
mittee on  Banks,  and  made  a  record  as  a  legislator  so  satis- 
factory to  his  constituents,  that  in  the  Senatorial  Convention 
of  1871,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the  position 
which  he  now  holds.  Two  years  previous,  the  Fifteenth  dis- 
trict had  been  lost  to  the  Republicans  by  an  unfortunate 
division  among  themselves,  and  the  selection  of  Mr.  WAGNER, 
who  was  not  a  politician,  and  represented  neither  faction,  was 
considered  a  guarantee  that  the  Democratic  majority  of  1869, 
of  2,003,  was  to  be  overcome.  And  overcome  it  was.  Mr. 
WAGNER  was  elected  over  ISAAC  FULLER,  his  Democratic 
opponent,  by  the  rousing  majority  of  3,222. 

Senator  WAGNER  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Public 
Expenditures,  and  a  member  on  Railroads  and  Grievances. 
One  of  the  quietest  gentlemen  of  the  circle  of  the  Upper 
House,  he  is,  nevertheless,  a  sound,  reliable  and  discreet  legis- 
lator, full  of  energy  and  determination,  and  in  possession,  in 
an  eminent  degree,  of  the  confidence  of  the  people.  They 
acknowledge  him  as  a  man  who  is  incorruptible,  an  enemy 
to  fraud  in  all  its  forms,  and  who,  by  his  genius  and  industry, 
has  risen  from  life's  lower  ranks  to  wealth  and  commanding 
position. 


110  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


AUGUSTUS  WEISMANN. 


AUGUSTUS  WEISMANN  represents  the  Sixth  Senatorial  dis- 
trict, which  consists  of  the  Tenth,  Eleventh  and  Seventeenth 
wards  of  the  city  of  New  York. 

Mr.  WEISMANN  was  born  March  6th,  1809,  in  a  village  in 
Wurtemberg,  southern  part  of  Germany.  His  ancestors  were 
exiled  Protestants  from  Austria  and  Salzburg,  in  Bavaria. 
At  the  age  of  six  years  he  was  sent  to  the  village  school,  and 
a  few  years  later  entered  a  classical  school  in  the  city  of 
Schorndorf,  where  he  remained  for  six  yeajs,  under  the 
tuition  of  excellent  teachers,  and  made  good  progress  in 
ancient  and  modern  languages  and  other  important  studies. 
Having  passed  a  satisfactory  examination,  he  was  placed  in 
charge  of  a  prominent  chemist  and  apothecary,  "  to  whom," 
he  is  accustomed  to  say,  "I  was  much  indebted  for  my 
further  education,  for  the  formation  of  my  character  and  my 
consequent  success  in  business."  Having  followed  the  pro- 
fession of  an  apothecary  in  various  parts  of  Germany,  he 
resolved  to  go  to  the  United  States,  and  accordingly  sailed 
from  Rotterdam  in  an  American  brig  to  New  York,  where 
he  arrived  on  the  3d  of  June,  1832. 

His  prospects  in  life  were  very  poor  the  first  year,  but  after 
much  difficulty  and  many  hardships,  he  succeeded  in  estab- 
lishing a  small  drug  store  in  Broome  street,  New  York  city. 
In  1834  he  was  married  to  a  native  of  New  York  and 
daughter  of  ADOLPHUS  Loss,  then  City  Surveyor.  Being 
prosperous  and  successful  in  business,  he  started  in  1846, 
in  company  with  H.  A.  CASSEBUE,  Esq.,  the  second  estab- 
lishment, in  importance,  in  Broadway,  under  the  well-known 
firm  WEISMAXX  &  CASSEBUR,  which  firm  continued  until 
1860. 

In  1851  he  was,  on  the  nomination  of  Alderman  ROBERT 
T.  HAWS,  of  the  Tenth  ward,  appointed  a  member  of  the 


AUGUSTUS  WEISMANN.  Ill 

Board  of  Education,  and  has  become  associated  with  the 
most  prominent  men  of  New  York,  who  had  the  welfare  and 
education  of  the  rising  generation  truly  at  heart. 

In  the  fall  election  (1857)  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  city  and  county  of  New  York  on 
the  Eepublican  ticket,  and  remained  in  said  board  until  the 
31st  of  December,  1863. 

From  that  period  until  1871  he  retired  entirely  from 
politics,  spent  part  of  his  time  on  his  farm  in  New  Jersey, 
and  paid  much  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  of  which 
he  is  passionately  fond. 

In  June,  1869,  he  sailed  with  his  wife  to  Germany,  his 
native  country,  which  he  had  not  visited  in  40  years,  and 
studied  with  great  attention  the  forms  of  government  of 
several  States,  and  the  management  of  their  public  and 
municipal  affairs.  He  returned  in  1870  highly  pleased  with 
his  visit. 

From  1837  to  1845,  he  served  in  the  Jefferson  Guards  of 
the  New  York  State  Militia,  first  as  private  and  subsequently 
as  a  commissioned  officer.  He  was  in  the  city  during  the 
days  of  the  memorable  riots  of  1863,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  special  committee  appointed  to  examine  the  riot  claims, 
and  other  great  expenditures  proceeding  from  that  incipient 
rebellion. 

Senator  WEISMAFN"  was  formerly  a  Democrat,  in  1848  was  a 
Free-Soiler,  and  since  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party 
has  been  a  member  of  that  organization.  He  was  elected  to 
the  Senate  by  a  plurality  of  2,425. 

The  Senator  is  an  earnest,  nervous  speaker,  and  when  treat- 
ing of  subjects  in  which  he  is  specially  interested,  is  often 
quite  eloquent.  There  is  a  pleasant  reminiscence  of  the 
Fatherland  in  his  accent,  although  he  is  a  master  of  the 
Anglo-Saxon  tongue.  He  is  very  rarely  absent  from  his 
place,  and  seems  to  be  as  devoted  to  the  public  weal  as  if  it 
were  exclusively  his  private  matter. 

The  President,  in  arranging  his  standing  committees,  very 


112  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

properly  placed  Senator  WEISMANN  at  the  head  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Public  Health.  He  is  also  a  member  on  com- 
merce and  Navigation,  and  Cities. 

The  Senator  is  the  most  courtly  gentleman  in  the  Sen- 
ate —  a  fine  exponent  of  the  entente  cordiale. 


ISTORRIS  WINSLOW. 


Senator  WINSLOW  represents  the  eighteenth  Senatorial 
district,  composed  of  the  counties  of  Jefferson  and  Lewis. 
His  father,  JOHN  WINSLOW.  was  formerly  member  of  Assem- 
bly, and  subsequently  one  of  the  Supervisors  of  Watertown, 
of  which  city  he  is  a  respected  and  influential  citizen. 

His  son,  the  present  Senator,  was  born  in  Watertown,  in 
May,  1835,  and  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  After 
attending  the  common  schools  and  academies  in  his  native 
place,  he  entered  a  dry  goods  store,  in  Watertown,  as  clerk, 
on  the  rather  slim  salary  of  two  dollars  a  week.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  from  1855  to  1865,  when 
he  became  proprietor  of  the  Merchants'  Bank,  which 
remained  an  individual  institution  until  April,  18T1,  when  a 
stock  company  was  organized,  of  which  he  was  made 
President. 

Mr.  WINSLOW  is  extensively  engaged  in  manufacturing, 
leading  in  many  important  enterprises,  and  an  energetic 
patron  of  every  movement  calculated  to  promote  the  material 
or  moral  prosperity  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 
He  is  President  of  the  Watertown  Fire  Insurance  Company, 
and  holds  a  large  interest  in  the  Agricultural  Insurance  Com- 
pany of  the  same  city.  He  is  also  President  of  the  Hoard 
American  Spinner  Manufacturing  Company,  and  in  addition 
is  extensively  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  the  Davis  Sew- 
ing Machine. 


NORRJS    WlNSLOW.  113 

Senator  WINSLOW  is  still  in  early  manhood.  His  mental 
powers,  however,  have  ever  been  active.  By  diligent  read- 
ing, and,  what  is  not  less  important,  by  the  habit  of  severe 
thinking,  he  has  acquired  a  large  measure  of  information, 
which,  with  ready  tact,  he  is  able  to  make  available  in  the 
practical  work  of  legislation.  A  thoroughly  well-informed 
gentleman,  his  wealth  and  intelligence  have  always  been 
cast  on  the  side  of  right,  and  have  been  potent  in  his  native 
place,  with  the  wants  and  interests  of  which  he  is  perfectly 
familiar. 

Mr.  WINSLOW'S  first  vote  was  cast  for  JOHN  C.  FREMONT 
for  President  in  1856.  Since  then  he  has  always  acted  with 
the  Eepublican  party,  and  during  the  rebellion  he,  like 
thousands  of  other  patriotic  men,  labored  according  to  the 
best  of  his  ability  to  put  down  the  terrible  civil  revolu- 
tion. He  was  a  candidate  for  Presidential  Elector  upon  the 
Kepublican  ticket  in  18G8,  and  is  at  present  Supervisor  of 
the  Second  ward  of  Watertown. 

In  the  last  Senate  Mr.  WIN  SLOW  served  on  the  committee 
on  Banks,  where  his  experience  as  a  banker  was  of  great  ser- 
vice in  determining  the  many  perplexing  questions  brought 
before  that  committee.  He  also  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittees on  Charitable  and  Religious  Societies  and  Joint 
Library. 

So  well  pleased  were  his  constituents  with  the  manner  in 
which  their  interests  had  been  attended  to  by  Senator 
WINSLOW  in  1870,  '71,  that  they  re-elected  him  to  the  present 
Senate  by  a  majority  over  eight  hundred  greater  than  he 
received  when  first  running.  Such  an  indorsement  of  his 
legislative  course  any  man  might  well  be  proud  of,  and 
doubtless  the  Senator  appreciates  it  at  its  full  value. 

In  February  of  last  year,  he  attracted  a  great  deal  of 
interest  and  attention  by  his  elaborate  letter  to  HORACE 
GUKET.EY  in  reply  to  certain  criticisms  made  by  the  great 
editor  in  the  "'  Tribune,"  as  to  his  course  in  the  Senate  on  the 
New  York  charter 


114  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

In  the  present  Senate,  the  important  and  responsible 
position  of  Chairman  of  the  committee  on  Banks  is  held  by 
Senator  WINSLOW.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Insurance 
and  Printing  committees. 

Gifted  with  fine  social  qualities,  he  is  as  agreeable  as  a 
companion,  as  he  is  capable  and  efficient  as  a  legislator. 


DANIEL  P.  WOOD. 


DAXIEL  WOOD,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
came,  in  1800,  to  Pompey,  Onondaga  county,  from  the  Berk- 
shire Hills.  DANIEL  P.  WOOD  is  of  New  England,  Massa- 
chusetts stock.  And  this  implies  more  than  many  men, 
whose  minds  are  biased  by  religious,  sectional  or  political 
antagonisms,  are  willing  to  admit. 

Massachusetts  is,  in  some  important  respects,  the  inferior 
of  this  our  native  State.  She  has  many  faults  of  history 
and  character.  She  has  given  birth  to  not  a  few  unworthy 
sons  and  daughters.  But,  after  all,  in  spite  of  what  may  be 
truthfully  said  about  the  Puritan  sternness  and  Calvanistic 
bigotry,  the  persecution  of  Baptists  and  Quakers,  the  Cotton 
Mathers  and  Salem  witches  of  the  past,  or  the  lax  notions 
and  heresies  of  the  present,  spite  of  all  the  business  and 
political  sins  fairly  or  unfairly  laid  at  her  door,  Massa- 
chusetts is  a  commonwealth  eminent  among  her  sisters  for 
the  nobler  qualities.  Considering  her  population,  and  the 
extent  of  her  territory,  her  history  cannot  easily  be  sur- 
passed for  variety  of  excellence.  Her  children  get  from  her  a 
moral  and  intellectual  training,  a  personal  independence  and 
love  of  liberty,  and  a  political  education  which  subordinates 
States  to  the  nation,  the  interests  of  the  individual  to  the 
interest  of  the  masses,  which  holds  the  home  prosperity  as 
bound  up  in,  and  inseparable  from,  the  prosperity  of  neigh- 


DANIEL  P.  WOOD.  115 

bors  and  sisters.  Such  sons  of  hers  who  go  wrong  are  unjust 
to  their  mother  and  share  nothing  of  her  spirit. 

Hon.  DANIEL  P.  WOOD  inherited,  and  has  exhibited 
through  life,  the  New  England  traits — readiness  to  labor  and 
to  learn,  strength  of  will,  forecast  and  sympathy  with  those 
movements  which  have  for  their  end  the  well-being  of  the 
country,  for  their  means  to  that  end  the  advancing  condition 
of  all  classes  and  races.  His  father  was  a  lawyer  and 
farmer,  farming  being  his  main  occupation.  Mr.  WOOD 
worked  diligently  on  the  farm  till  he  was  twenty  years 
old,  acquiring  a  vigor  of  constitution  which  has  since 
enabled  him  to  endure  the  severest  mental  labor.  After 
a  preparatory  course  at  Pompey  Hill  Academy,  he  entered 
Hamilton  College.  There  he  not  only  disciplined  his  mind 
by  a  mastering  of  the  class  studies,  but  expanded  it  by  a 
wide  range  of  reading.  He  studied  law  at  Pompey,  with 
VICTORY  BIHDSEYE,  and  in  1846  commenced  the  practice  of 
law  at  Syracuse.  His  industry  and  skill  were  not  long  in 
securing  him  great  success.  He  was  Corporation  Attorney 
for  three  years,  and  his  general  business  was  so  large,  and 
attended  to  with  such  fidelity,  that  in  1853  his  health  broke 
down.  In  that  year,  and  the  year  1854,  he  consented  to 
represent  his  district  in  the  Assembly,  in  the  hope  of  benefit 
from  lighter  labors  and  a  change  of  occupation.  But  the 
legislation  of  those  years  was  very  important,  and  Mr.  WOOD 
was  too  earnest  and  active  to  give  the  needed  rest  to  his 
worn-out  frame.  In  1853,  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Salt,  and  was  on  the  Committee  on  Claims  and 
the  Code.  On  this  last  Committee  was  AUPHAXAD  LOOMIS, 
while  DAVID  DUDLEY  FIELD,  another  codifier.  was  often 
present  at  its  sessions.  The  Committee  sat  many  hours 
each  day,  entertaining  the  most  important  discussions,  de- 
manding for  their  proper  handling,  severe  thought  and  wide 
knowledge, and  Mr.  WOOD  brought  to  them  his  legal  acumen 
and  conscientious  industry. 

In    addition,    the  canal  policy  came   up   for   review   and 


116  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

determination.  The  Legislature  of  this  year  submitted  the 
question  of  debt  for  the  completion  of  the  enlargement  to 
the  people,  and  in  the  long,  exciting  and  able  debates,  Mr. 
WOOD  was  prominent  and  influential.  He  was  one  of  the 
Managers,  on  the  part  of  the  Assembly,  of  the  impeachment 
of  Canal  Commissioner  JOHN  C.  MATHER.  To  have  been 
assigned  such  important  posts  by  a  House  politically  opposed 
to  him,  and  during  his  first  year  as  a  legislator,  was  no  light 
tribute  to  his  reputation  and  capacity. 

In  1854,  as  Chairman  of  the  committee  on  Colleges, 
Academies,  etc.,  he  matured  and  carried  through  the  act 
creating  the  Department  of  Public  Instruction.  He  was, 
this  year,  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means. 
He  attended  moderately  to  his  profession  during  the  three 
years  immediately  following;  but,  in  1857,  a  hemorrhage  of 
the  throat  or  lungs  brought  him  to  the  borders  of  the  grave. 

Most  men  would  have  given  way,  but  the  will  of  Mr. 
WOOD  triumphed  over  disease,  and  as  soon  as  he  became 
convalescent,  he  started  for  South  Carolina,  returning  thence 
on  horseback. 

In  1864,  'G5,  '66,  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  as  Repre- 
sentative from  the  Second  District  of  Onondaga  county.  In 
1865  and  1866  he  was  Chairman  of  the  committee  on  Canals, 
a  position  requiring  almost  ceaseless  labor.  He  understood 
the  canals,  and  defended  their  interests  with  honor  to  him- 
self and  usefulness  to  the  State.  In  1865,  he  was  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  to  receive  the  remains  of  President  LIN- 
COLN', at  the  city  of  Xew  York,  and  conduct  them  through 
the  State.  He  was  also  on  the  Ways  and  Means,  a  committee 
of  which,  in  the  following  year,  he  was  Chairman. 

Mr.  WOOD  was  a  Whig;  then  a  Republican.  During  the 
war,  he  labored  without  ceasing.  The  first  regiment  which 
went  from  Syracuse  was  raised  in  one  week.  In  the  same 
period,  mainly  through  the  exertions  of  Mr.  WOOD,  nearly 
§20,000  was  contributed  on  behalf  of  the  soldiers  and  their 
families.  His  patriotism  knew  no  fear  or  faltering;  he  kept 


JAMES  WOOD.  117 

up  his  patience  and  his  hope,  speaking  words  of  good  cheer 
all  the  more  when  hours  were  darkest. 

As  a  legislator,  Mr.  WOOD  is  noticeable  for  his  vigor, 
activity  and  versatility.  He  speaks  often,  but  always  with  a 
good  understanding  of  his  subject.  He  was  elected  to  the 
present  Senate  by  a  majority  of  3,991.  Possessing,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  the  confidence  of  the  people  as  a  sound  and 
reliable  representative,  he  has  grown  gray  in  the  long  years 
of  service  exacted  of  him,  because  of  his  high  intellectual 
endowments  and  unflinching  integrity. 


JAMES  WOOD. 


An  English  family  bearing  the  name  of  WOOD  was  num- 
bered among  the  stout-hearted  and  hard-headed  Puritans 
who,  two  centuries  ago,  sought  the  inhospitable  shores  of 
Massachusetts.  These  pilgrims  came  with  the  anomalous 
desire  of  enjoying  free  worship  themselves  and  of  dictating 
the  worship  of  others. 

From  out  of  this  colony  a  little  band  explored  the  then 
unbroken  forests  of  the  North,  and  established  a  settlement 
in  what  is  now  known  as  the  State  of  New  Hampshire.  The 
WOOD  family  accompanied  this  party  of  pioneers.  They 
were  honest,  industrious  people,  practical  in  worldly  affairs, 
and  enthusiasts  in  matters  pertaining  to  religion. 

From  this  worthy  stock  sprang  the  Senator  from  the 
Thirtieth  District, 

JAMES  WOOD  was  born  at  Alsteml,  New  Hampshire,  April 
4,  1820.  His  father  was  a  poor  man,  who  earned  a  scanty 
subsistence  by  tilling  that  soil  which  OAXIEL  WEBSTER 
described  as  being  so  stony  that  it  was  common  to  sharpen 
the  sheep's  noses,  to  enable  them  to  nibble  the  blades  of  grass 
which  grew  between  the  rocks. 


118  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

In  the  year  1824,  seeking  to  better  his  condition,  the  elder 
Mr.  WOOD  emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  State  of  New- 
York,  where,  after  several  changes  of  residence,  he  finally 
settled  in  the  year  1829,  at  Lima,  in  Livingston  county. 

Here  James  attended  a  district  school,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary,  where  he  completed 
an  academic  course.  He  then  went  to  Auburn,  with  the  in- 
tention of  reading  law,  but  reaching  the  conclusion  that  a 
more  thorough  preliminary  education  was  desirable,  he 
changed  his  plans  and  went  to  Union  College,  where  he 
graduated,  with  the  honors  of  the  institution,  in  the  year 
1842. 

Immediately  after  leaving  college,  Mr.  WOOD  entered  the 
office  of  the  Hon.  JOHN  YOUXG,  then  a  practicing  lawyer  at 
Geneseo,  in  Livingston  county,  as  a  student.  In  1843  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  and  became  a  partner  of  his  patron.  In 
1840,  Mr.  YOTXG  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of  Xew 
York,  and  in  coming  to  Albany,  relinquished  his  professional 
business  to  Mr.  WOOD,  who  has  ever  since  made  Geneseo  his 
residence. 

In  1854.  he  was  elected  District  Attorney  of  Livingston 
county,  and  served  one  term  with  great  acceptance  to  the 
people.  He  declined  a  re-nomination,  which  was  proffered 
him,  and  returned  to  the  regular  duties  of  his  profession. 

Mr.  WOOD  developed,  at  an  early  age,  great  taste  for  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  military  affairs.  While  yet  a  boy  at  school, 
he  was  elected  the  captain  of  a  regularly  organized  company 
of  militia.  During  his  college  days  he  was  made  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  and  in  the  year  1848,  he  was  commissioned  Colonel 
by  Governor  BOUCK.  In  1850,  he  was  instrumental  in  secur- 
ing the  passage  of  the  law  for  uniforming  the  militia.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  his  regiment,  duly  armed,  equipped,  and 
uniformed,  held  an  encampment  at  Mt.  Morris,  in  the  county 
of  Livingston  —  the  first  ever  held  in  the  State.  The  next 
year,  General  WOOL  reviewed  this  regiment,  and  compli- 
mented it  highly  on  the  excellence  of  its  discipline. 


JAMES  WOOD.  119 

In  1854,  Colonel  WOOD  drafted  the  law,  authorizing  the 
appointment  of  an  Inspector-General,  an  officer,  whose  power 
has  been  largely  instrumental  in  raising  our  National  Guard 
to  its  present  high  standard. 

In  1855,  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General  was  conferred  on 
him. 

When  the  war  for  the  Union  commenced  in  1861,  General 
WOOD  entered  heartily  into  the  patriotic  spirit  which  actuated 
the  people,  and  devoted  much  of  his  time  during  the  first 
year  to  the  work  of  organizing  troops. 

It  was  mainly  through  his  efforts  that  the  136th  regiment 
was  raised,  and  in  August,  1863,  lie  was  offered  the  command 
of  it,  and  accepted  the  same.  He  was  shortly  after  ordered 
to  join  the  Eleventh  Corps,  with  which  body  he  participated 
in  much  hard  fighting.  He  led  his  men  at  the  battles  of 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Lookout  Mountain,  Chatta- 
nooga, Missionary  Ridge,  Knoxville,  Eesaca,  Cassville,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta,  Milledge- 
ville,  Savannah,  Charlestown,  Averysburgh  and  Bentonville. 

The  first  man  killed  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  was  from 
his  regiment,  and  he  commanded  a  brigade  in  the  last  battle 
of  SHERMAN'S  famous  march  to  the  sea, 

For  his  distinguished  services  in  the  army,  Colonel  WOOD 
was  breveted  Major-General  of  the  United  States  volunteers. 

In  1865  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Geneseo,  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  law. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Senate  from  the  Thirtieth  district, 
at  the  election  of  1869,  by  a  majority  of  4,694,  and  in  1871 
having  been  re-nominated  by  acclamation,  by  a  majority  of 


The  Senator  is  an  affable,  agreeable  gentleman,  standing 
full  six  feet  in  height,  with  erect  soldierly  bearing.  As  a 
debater  he  is  unusually  calm  and  dispassionate,  speaking 
with  some  hesitation  at  times,  but  always  clothing  his 
thoughts  in  clear  and  unequivocal  language.  As  Chairman 
of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  his  fine  legal  abilities  have  full 


120  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

scope  for  their  exercise,  and  are  vigorously  and  patiently 
employed. 


WILLIAM  B.  WOODIN. 


The  President  pro  tern,  of  the  Senate,  and  the  premier  of 
his  party  in  that  body,  is  Hon.  WILLIAM  B.  WOODIN",  of 
Auburn,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 

He  was  born  at  Genoa,  in  the  county  of  Cayuga,  on  the 
25th  of  September,  1824.  After  receiving  a  thorough  acad- 
emic education,  and  graduating  at  the  Cortland  Academy,  he 
applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law  with  so  much  suc- 
cess that,  once  admitted  to  practice,  it  was  not  long  before 
he  rose  to  a  prominent  place  among  his  brethren  at  the  bar. 

In  1859  his  high  character  and  conspicuous  legal  abilities 
secured  his  election  to  the  office  of  Surrogate  of  Cayuga 
county.  He  brought  to  the  discharge  of  the  delicate  and 
responsible  duties  incident  to  settling  up  estates,  so  much 
patience,  industry  and  intelligence  that  his  re-election  as  Sur- 
rogate followed  almost  as  a  matter  of  course.  A  second 
re-election  resulted  at  the  proper  time,  and  when  Mr. 
WOODIN  was  elevated  to  the  Senate  in  1869  there  was  a  gen- 
eral and  an  urgent  request  made  of  him  to  continue  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  Surrogate.  He  may  well  be  proud  of 
the  indorsement  which  he  has  received  from  homo. 

The  Senator's  first  experience  as  a  law-maker  for  the 
Empire  State  dates  back  to  1855.  In  that  year  he  repre- 
sented the  second  district  of  Cayuga  county  in  the  Assembly 
to  the  satisfaction  of  those  who  sent  him  there.  He  is  now 
serving  his  second  term  in  the  Senate,  having  been  a  mem- 
ber of  that  body  in  1870-71.  During  his  first  term  lie  took 
high  rank  as  a  legislator,  especially  distinguishing  himself 
from  the  very  start  as  a  debater.  On  the  second  day  of  the 
session  of  1871  he  made  an  able  argument  on  the  right  or 


WlLLfAM  B.    WOODIN.  121 

power  of  one  Legislature  to  rescind  the  action  of  a  previous 
Legislature  in  relation  to  amendments  to  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States,  an  argument  which,  although  delivered 
after  a  very  slight  preparation,  commanded  great  attention, 
and  was  pronounced  by  those  who  heard  it  as  an  exhaustive 
treatment  of  the  subject  under  discussion. 

Having,  in  his  two  years'  service  in  the  former  Senate, 
taken  rank  among  the  foremost  as  an  able,  judicious  and 
honest  legislator,  possessing  both  business  and  forensic 
capacity,  he  was,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  renominated  as  Senator 
by  acclamation.  The  wisdom  of  the  renomination,  and  Mr. 
WOODIN'S  growth  in  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people 
of  the  Fifteenth  district  is  shown  by  glancing  at  the  vote  cast 
for  him  in  1869,  as  compared  with  that  which  he  received  in 
1871.  In  18G9  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  2,897 ;  in 
1871  his  majority  was  4,120,  an  increase  of  1,223.  In  the 
present  Senate  Mr.  WOODIN"  has  played  a  very  prominent 
part.  The  session  of  1872  was  presided  over  by  Lieutenant- 
Governor  BEACH,  and  that  gentleman  being  opposed  politi- 
cally to  the  majority,  was,  very  naturally,  desirous  of  being 
relieved  from  the  responsibility  of  naming  the  Standing  Com- 
mittees. Accordingly,  the  task  of  committee-making  fell  to 
Senator  WOODIN,  who  had  been  chosen  by  his  associates 
President  pro  tern,  of  the  Senate.  Probably  no  more  thank- 
less or  delicate  task  can  well  be  conceived  of  than  that  of 
forming  standing  committees.  AHTEMUS  WARD  thought 
he  could  achieve  a  military  success  by  raising  a  regiment  to 
be  composed  entirely  of  major-generals.  The  plan  is  more 
felicitous  than  feasible,  but  if  something  similar  to  it  could 
be  contrived  for  legislative  bodies,  in  virtue  of  which 
every  honorable  gentleman  should  have  a  chairmanship,  Mr. 
President  and  Mr.  Speaker  would  have  considerable  less  worry 
than  under  the  present  limitations.  We  believe  Senator 
WOODIN  gave  general  satisfaction  with  his  make-up  of  the 
Senate  committees  for  1872 — the  chief,  if  not  the  only  point 


122  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

of  criticism  that  developed  itself  being  that  he  gave  himself 
no  appointments. 

Lieutenant-Governor  KOBINSON,  in  arranging  the  Senate 
committees  for  1873,  designated  Senator  WOODIN  as  Chair- 
man of  the  Committee  of  Cities  —  a  position  which  was  an 
appropriate  recognition  of  his  standing  among  his  associates, 
and  his  signal  legislative  capacity. 

As  a  presiding  officer,  Senator  WOODIN  has  won  many 
encomiums.  Courteous,  yet  dignified,  possessing  a  faculty 
of  dispatching  business,  and  well  versed  in  parliamentary 
law  and  usages,  he  fills  the  position  of  President  pro  tern,  to 
the  satisfaction  alike  of  the  majority  and  the  minority. 

Politically,  Mr.  WOODIIS"  was  a  Whig  from  the  time  he  be- 
came a  voter  until  the  Whig  party  ceased  to  exist.  When 
the  great  Compromise  was  repudiated  and  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  bill  passed,  and,  as  a  consequence,  the  Whig  party 
dissolved  and  made  way  for  its  legitimate  successor,  the  Ee- 
publican  party,  Senator  WOODIN"  at  once  became  a  zealous 
supporter  of  the  new  organization.  He  still  continues  to 
uphold  its  principles,  and  in  nearly  every  political  canvass 
does  effective  work  "  on  the  stump." 


CHARLES  R.  DAYTON.  123 

CHARLES  R.  DAYTON, 

CLERK   OF   THE   SENATE. 

The  duties  of  the  Clerk  of  such  a  body  as  the  Senate  are 
not  solely  or  chiefly  clerical,  in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of 
the  word.  Very  much  more  is  required  of  him  than  keeping 
the  diary  of  each  day's  legislative  doings  in  a  large,  legible 
hand  ;  very  much  more  than  filing  petitions,  bills,  reports  and 
all  that  sort  of  thing  in  appropriate  pigeon  holes,  and  pro- 
ducing them  when  required  ;  very  much  more  than  taking 
charge  of  that  important  but  imaginary  table  attached  to  his 
desk,  upon  which  so  many  documents  of  one  kind  and 
another  are  temporarily  or  permanently  ''laid;"  very  much 
more  than  proclaiming,  with  stentorian  voice,  all  the  wis- 
dom which  "The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  repre- 
sented in  Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact." 

A  man  may  give  satisfaction  as  regards  all  the  points  indi- 
cated, and,  nevertheless,  fall  short  of  the  stature  of  a  Clerk  of 
the  requisite  capacity  and  accomplishments.  A  thoroughly 
capable  Clerk  —  such  an  one,  for  instance,  as  he  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  article  —  is  on  occasion,  and  must 
always  stand  ready  to  be  the  prompter,  if  not  the  power, 
behind  the  Chair.  When  new  and  inexperienced  legislators 
for  the  first  time  are  called  upon  to  preside  over  Senate  or 
Committee  of  the  Whole,  where  would  they  be,  what  would 
become  of  them,  but  for  the  friendly  and  incessant  whis- 
pers of  the  Clerk  ?  When  a  knotty  point  in  parliamen- 
tary law  is  brought  forward  to  the  disagreement  of  the 
Senators,  the  Clerk  who,  on  being  consulted,  fails  to  pro- 
duce from  his  tongue's  end  a  solution  of  the  difficulty,  is 
apt  to  be  looked  upon  with  a  measure  of  disapprobation,  as 
one  not  entirely  fortified  in  his  position.  In  addition  to  all 
this,  the  Clerk  is  expected  to  name,  on  the  instant,  that  a  bill 
is  introduced —  no  matter  how  queer  and  outlandish  the  bill  — 


124  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

the  very  committee  set  apart  for  its  reception ;  to  keep  in 
mind  the  title  of  every  act,  "entitled  an  act,"  introduced  from 
the  commencement  to  the  close  of  the  session,  including,  as 
germain  to  the  subject,  the  name  of  the  committee  to  whom 
referred,  and  the  date  of  subsequent  report.  Having  added 
that,  he  must  be  as  ready  with  answers  to  all  sorts  of  ques- 
tions as  a  metropolitan  hotel  clerk ;  that  his  legislative 
ability  would  avail  him  but  little  unless  combined  with  great 
executive  talents ;  that  it  behooves  him  to  have  a  knowledge 
of  men  as  well  as  of  affairs ;  to  be  the  possessor  of  the  social 
virtue,  of  unfailing  good  nature,  and,  as  it  were,  to  be  a 
walking  edition  of  the  blue  and  red  book,  we  refrain  from 
further  definition,  and,  merely  repeating  our  preliminary 
observation,  that  the  duties  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Senate  are 
not  solely  or  chiefly  clerical,  we  pass  on  to  give  a  brief  sketch 
of  the  present  efficient  Clerk  of  the  Senate,  CHARLES  E. 
DAYTOX. 

CHARLES  E.  DAYTOX  was  born  at  East  Hampton,  Suffolk 
county,  on  the  25th  of  December,  1828,  and  was  the  only 
son  of  JOSIAH  C.  DAYTOX,  of  that  place,  and  the  eldest  of 
four  children.  His  father,  who  died  in  18.")!).  was  well  and 
favorably  known  in  Suffolk  county.  He  represented  it  in 
the  Assembly  in  the  years  1837  and  1841,  and  for  twenty-five 
years  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  for  East  Hamp- 
ton. 

The  subject  of  this  biographical  notice  received  a  common 
school  education  and  spent  some  time  in  attendance  at  Clin- 
ton Academy,  at  East  Hampton.  He  was.  however,  not  per- 
mitted to  pursue  his  studies  without  interruption,  being  com- 
pelled to  divide  the  year  between  the  school-house  and  the 
farm.  His  schooling  over,  lie  continued  to  farm  it  until  the 
year  1852,  when  he  was  appointed  Engrossing  Clerk  of  the 
Senate.  He  served  in  that  capacity  two  terms.  1852-53,  and 
later  in  1856-57.  In  the  fall  of  1858,  he  was  elected  County 
Clerk  of  Suffolk  county — the  first  Eepublican  incumbent 
of  that  office.  In  this  position  he  gave  general  satisfaction, 


CHARLES  R.  DAYTON.  125 

but  declining,  at  the  end  of  his  term,  a  renomination,  he 
returned  to  private  life. 

In  1862  he  resumed  a  line  of  work  for  which  he  had  shown 
himself  peculiarly  qualified,  being  appointed  Journal  Clerk 
of  the  Assembly.  In  this  position  he  remained  until  1865,  in 
the  mean  time  making  troops  of  friends,  by  his  genial 
but  dignih'ed  deportment,  and  his  faithful  and  intelligent 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  desk.  On  the  resignation  of 
the  Journal  Clerk  of  the  Senate  in  1865,  Mr.  DAYTON  was 
tendered  the  vacant  place.  He  accepted  it,  and  ever  since 
has  been  in  the  service  of  the  Senate.  His  character  and 
capacity  are  shown  in  the  fact  that  he  retained  his  position 
during  the  years  in  which  his  political  opponents  had  full 
control  of  all  the  appointments.  In  1872.  upon  the  resigna- 
tion of  JAMES  TERWILLIGER,  it  followed,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
that  he  should  be  appointed  Clerk  of  the  Senate. 

Such  is  a  brief  record  of  the  salient  points  in  Mr.  DAY- 
TON'S life.  Born  of  humble  parentage,  and  in  an  obscure 
corner  of  the  State,  Avith  none  of  the  agencies  surrounding 
him  which  compel  the  smiles  of  fortune,  whatever  of  success 
he  has  attained  has  been  the  1'esult  of  his  own  unaided 
efforts.  His  continued  service  as  Journal  Clerk  in  the  two 
Houses  was  not  the  result  of  political  wire-pulling  or  official 
influence.  It  was  rather  the  logical  sequence  of  duty, 
thoroughly  and  conscientiously  discharged — he  made  himself 
necessary  to  the  places  which  he  filled,  and  so  retained  them. 
In  serving  the  public  he  has  always  brought  to  bear  the  same 
attention  and  devotion  which  lie  would  have  bestowed  upon 
individual  enterprise,  and  hence  his  long  and  uninterrupted 
service  under  Democratic  as  well  as  under  Republican  rule 
is  not  hard  to  be  accounted  for. 

On  his  appointment  as  Clerk  of  the  Senate  the  Albany 
Argus,  the  organ  of  his  political  opponents,  testified  that, 
"  as  a  public  officer,  Mr.  DAYTON  has  no  superior  for  close 
attention  to  business,  and  for  courteous  conduct  toward  all 


126  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

with  whom  he  may  come  in  contact.     No  gentleman  more 
deserving  or  more  trustworthy  ever  filled  the  desk." 

Mr.  DAYTON  commenced  his  political  life  as  a  Free  Soil 
Democrat,  so  called,  but  joined  the  Republican  Party  on  its 
organization  in  1855,  and  ever  since  has  remained  an  energetic 
and  influential  member  of  that  organization.  He  was  mar- 
ried December  16th,  1868,  to  SARAH  F.  SHERKILL  of  East 
Hampton,  and  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY. 


ALONZO   B.    CORNELL, 

SPEAKEE. 

In  the  long  list  of  Speakers,  few  names  shine  more  than 
that  of  Hon.  ALONZO  B.  CORNELL.  The  circumstances  under 
which  he  was  chosen  were  peculiarly  honorable  to  himself. 
He  had  never  been  a  member  of  any  general  legislative  body. 
Among  the  others  elected  to  the  Assembly  were  several  who 
had  served  through  extended  terms,  and  who  united  great 
capacity  with  ample  parliamentary  experience.  Yet  such  was 
the  standing  which  Mr.  CORNELL  had  acquired,  such  the 
aptitude  he  had  shown  in  every  position  where  he  had  been 
placed,  and  such  the  universal  sense  of  the  recognition  due 
to  his  public  services,  that  from  the  very  day  of  the  election, 
the  eyes  of  the  people  and  of  the  members  turned  to  him  as 
pre-eminently  the  man  to  preside.  In  this  sentiment  none 
concurred  more  cordially  than  those  whose  own  abilities 
might  justly  have  entitled  them  to  aspire  to  the  honor. 
There  was  no  contest.  But  one  voice  prevailed.  Mr.  COR- 
NELL was  nominated  by  acclamation  in  the  caucus  of  his 
party,  and  elected  by  the  vote  of  nearly  three-fourths  of  the 
members.  The  complimentary  judgment  thus  expressed  has 
been  more  than  confirmed  by  the  progress  of  the  session. 

Mr.  CORNELL  was  born  at  Ithaca,  Tompkins  county,  New 
York,  on  the  22d  of  January.  1832,  His  father,  Hon.  EZRA 
CORNELL,  still  actively  continuing  a  busy,  beneficent  and 
honorable  career,  is  a  man  of  high  distinction  in  the  State, 
and  universally  esteemed  as  one  of  the  chief  of  her  public 
benefactors.  He  was  a  Member  of  Assembly  in  1862  and 


128  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

1863.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  Senate,  where, 
being  re-elected,  he  served  with  great  credit  through  two  full 
terms.  But  it  is  in  connection  with  the  establishment  of 
Cornell  University  that  the  senior  Mr.  CORNELL  has  the 
highest  claims  to  public  gratitude.  His  munificent  gener- 
osity created  that  noble  institution,  as  his  wise  direction 
and  ample  endowments,  skillfully  assisted,  have  carried  it  to 
its  present  high  degree  of  development.  Broad  in  its 
scope,  far-reaching  in  its  aims,  rich  in  the  brilliant  names 
which  it  enlists,  and  the  varied  treasures  of  scholarship 
which  it  lays  under  contribution,  the  newest  in  the  sister- 
hood of  our  colleges,  but  already  outstripping  many  of  the 
others  and  pointing  them  to  higher  paths,  it  remains  a  source 
of  pride  to  the  State  and  an  enduring  monument  to  the 
liberal  public  spirit  of  its  true-hearted  founder. 

The  younger  Mr.  CORNELL  was  educated  at  the   Ithaca 

J  O 

Academy.  In  harmony  with  the  genius  of  our  institutions 
he  early  struck  out  to  carve  his  own  fortune.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  he  entered  upon  the  active  work  of  life,  beginning,  like 
his  father  and  so  many  of  our  successful  public  men,  on  one 
of  the  first  rounds  of  the  ladder,  and  by  his  own  energy  and 
capacity  climbing  his  Avay  up.  He  chose  the  field  in  which  his 
father,  struggling  long  and  courageously,  rendered  conspicu- 
ous service  to  the  world  and  achieved  eminent  success,  that  of 
the  telegraph.  Commencing  as  a  telegraph  operator,  he  was 
employed  successively  at  Troy,  Montreal  and  Buffalo  until 
1848,  when  he  became  manager  of  the  office  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  several  years.  Removing  thence  to 
Xew  York,  he  served  from  1855  to  1859  as  the  manager  of 
the  principal  telegraph  office  in  that  city.  Relinquishing 
this  position,  he  became  proprietor  of  a  line  of  steamboats 
on  Cayuga  Lake,  and  continued  as  such  through  1862  and 
the  subsequent  year.  From  1864  to  1869  he  was  Cashier  and 
Vice-President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Ithaca,  of 
which  institution  he  has  been  a  Director  since  its  organiza- 
tion. He  is  also  a  Director  of  the  Ithaca  and  Athens  Rail- 


ALONZO  B.  CORNELL.  129 

road,  a  Trustee  of  the  Cornell  Library  and  of  the  Cornell 
University,  a  Director  and  First  Vice-President  of  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company,  and  also  a  Director  of  the 
Gold  and  Stock  Telegraph  Company,  and  of  the  American 
District  Telegraph  Company,  positions  which  attest  his  busi- 
ness talents  and  success.  In  November,  1852,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  ELLEX,  daughter  of  GEORGE  COVERT,  Esq.,  of  Ithaca, 
an  accomplished  and  estimable  lady.  They  have  had  three 
sons,  the  second  of  whom,  a  child  of  remarkable  promise, 
Avas  killed  by  falling  down  a  stairway  in  March,  1870,  being 
then  about  eight  years  of  age.  This  sad  affliction  was  a 
poignant  blow  to  the  fond  parents,  and  they  received  the 
warmest  sympathy  of  an  extended  circle  of  friends,  with 
whom  little  EDDIE  was  an  especial  favorite. 

In  politics,  Mr.  CORNELL  has  been  an  ardent  Republican 
since  the  organization  of  that  party  in  1854.  With  large 
public  spirit  and  a  natural  taste  for  public  affairs,  he  has 
always  taken  a  keen  interest  in  political  movements.  His 
rare  organizing  faculty  was  developed  at  an  early  period,  as 
he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  Central  Committee  of 
Tompkins  county  from  1859  to  I860,  and  a  member  of  the 
Republican  State  Committee  in  I860  and  1867.  For  two 
years  also,  beginning  in  1864,  he  served  as  Supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Ithaca.  He  was  named  by  the  law  of  the  State  as 
one  of  the  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of  the  New  Capitol 
at  Albany,  and  continued  as  such  from  1868  to  1871,  partici- 
pating in  the  adoption  of  the  plan  and  in  the  initiation  of  the 
work  which  will  produce  one  of  the  most  commanding  archi- 
tectural structures  on  the  continent.  In  1868  he  was  the 
Republican  candidate  for  Lieutenant-Governor  on  the  ticket 
with  tlif  lamented  Jonx  A.  GRISWOLD.  The  ticket  proved 
very  popular,  and  the  campaign  was  one  of  great  earnest- 
ness; but  though  Mr.  CORNELL  received  411,670  votes,  he 
and  his  associates  were  defeated  through  the  well-known 
election  frauds  of  that  year.  In  March,  1869,  at  the  begin- 
ing  of  the  new  Republican  Administration,  he  was  appointed 
0 


130  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

to  the  responsible  position  of  Surveyor  of  the  Port  of  New 
York,  which  he  filled  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  public  until  October,  1872,  when  he  tendered 
his  resignation  in  order  to  accept  a  nomination  to  the  Assem- 
bly. In  June,  1870,  he  was  nominated  by  President  GRANT 
to  the  honorable  office  of  Assistant  Treasurer  of  the  United 
States,  at  New  York,  but  declined  the  appointment. 

During  these  later  years  Mr.  CORNELL  has  been  recognized 
as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  representatives 
of  the  Republican  party,  with  others  wisely  guiding  its 
councils  and  skillfully  leading  it  to  victory.  No  one  has 
labored  with  more  zeal  and  judgment  io  advance  its  inter- 
ests or  contributed  more  to  its  success.  In  1870,  he  was 
made  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Committee  —  a 
position  which  he  still  holds,  and  which  he  has  filled  with 
conspicuous  ability.  In  two  of  the  three  years  of  his  admin- 
istration, his  party  won  remarkable  triumphs,  and  even,  in 
the  first,  where  it  failed,  the  foundations  were  being  laid  for 
the  success  which  was  subsequently  achieved.  This  con- 
summation was  not  reached  merely  by  the  ordinary  methods. 
It  was  wrought  out  through  the  prescient  wisdom  which 
recognized  the  necessity  for  a  thorough  reorganization  of  the 
party,  and  the  firm  purpose  which  persistently  and  unflinch- 
ingly prosecuted  it  to  its  conclusion.  This  is  not  the  place 
for  partisan  references  or  for  political  history.  Yet,  as  illus- 
trating one  of  the  most  important  achievements  with  which 
Mr.  CORNELL  was  intimately  identified,  it  may  be  permitted 
us  to  say  a  word  of  this  great  work  accomplished  under  his 
Chairmanship.  In  connection  with  others,  conspicuous 
among  whom  was  Senator  CONKLING  —  and  the  relations  of 
Mr.  CORNELL  with  the  distinguished  Senator  merit  a  pass- 
ing allusion  as  deserving  a  place  in  the  annals  of  notable 
political  friendships  —  in  connection  with  these  associates, 
Mr.  CORNELL  believed  that  a  reorganization  of  the  party  in 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  its  rescue  from  prejudicial  influ- 
ences which  had  debauched  and  paralyzed  its  machinery, 


ALONZO  B.  CORNELL.  131 

were  vital  to  success.  Accordingly,  he  and  they  set  out  to 
retrieve  its  position.  Their  determination  was  in  reality  the 
beginning  of  the  great  reform  movement  which  has  produced 
such  important  and  far-reaching  consequences.  In  the 
prosecution  of  this  work,  he  was  brought  into  conflict  with 
some  men  who  resisted  the  new  policy,  and,  among  others, 
with  the  late  Mr.  GREELEY.  Having  written  a  letter  to  the 
Hon.  GILES  HOTCIIKISS,  explaining  the  necessity  and  char- 
acter of  the  movement,  he  was  arraigned  by  Mr.  GREELEY 
in  a  passionate  and  vehement  reply.  Mr.  CORNELL  rejoined 
in  a  calm,  able  and  convincing  letter,  dated  September  7, 
1871,  and  concluding  with  the  following  dignified  reference 
to  his  own  action  and  spirit : 

Mr.  GREELEY  !  much  has  been  said  about  dissensions  and 
controversies  between  Republicans.  Remember  that  this 
controversy  is  of  your  own  seeking.  I  wrote  a  civil  letter  to 
a  leading  Republican,  in  answer  to  inquiries  which  had  been 
made  of  me  as  Chairman  of  the  State  Committee.  Others 
thought  it  desirable  that  it  should  be  published.  In  it  I 
assailed  no  one,  nor  spoke  an  unkind  word  of  any  Republi- 
can. The  Tribune  attacked  me  by  name,  called  me  a  calum- 
niator, and  charged  me  with  unworthy  motives.  Not  con- 
tent with  this,  you,  over  your  o\vn  signature,  address  me 
officially  by  name  in  the  Tribune,  and  boldly  accuse  me  of 
falsehood  and  misrepresentation.  In  what  manner  have  I 
merited  such  violence  ?  Last  year  I  labored  earnestly  and 
faithfully  to  nominate  you  for  Governor,  and  that,  too.  in 
opposition  to  General  WoODFORD  and  GEORGE  WILLIAM 
Ci'KTis,  both  my  esteemed  personal  friends.  Later,  I  warmly 
supported  your  nomination  and  election  to  Congress,  while 
you  were  strenuously  opposed  by  many  of  the  very  men 
with  whom  you  are  now  consorting  in  the  Tammany-Repub- 
lican committee.  During  all  of  the  proceedings  in  regard  to 
the  reorganization,  I  treated  you  with  the  greatest  courtesy. 
In  my  Ilotchkiss  letter  I  said  not  a  single  word  disrespectful 
of  you.  What  I  have  said  in  this  communication  has  been 
more  than  provoked  by  your  personal  attack  upon  me.  The 
Republicans  of  the  State  are  sick  and  tired  of  these  person- 
alities. With  them  rests  the  disposition  of  the  work  of 
reorganization.  For  my  part,  I  do  not  intend  to  contribute 


132  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

to  any  further  controversies.  I  shall  do  my  best  to  promote 
the  harmony  and  prosperity  of  the  party  which  has  been  so 
needlessly  imperiled  by  your  unfortunate  action. 

The  reorganization  was  completed.  It  was  ratified  by  the 
State  Convention.  It  was  followed  by  the  success  of  the 
party  and  the  triumph  of  reform  ;  and  the  sagacity  of  those 
who  had  planned  and  executed  it  was  thus  fully  vindicated 
by  the  result.  The  final  test  came  in  the  campaign  of  1872, 
and  the  masterly  abilities  of  Mr.  CORNELL,  as  a  political 
organizer,  were  then  signally  illustrated,  as  the  movement 
itself  was  crowned  with  complete  victory.  Every  thing  con- 
spired to  make  it  a  memorable  contest.  Besides  involving  this 
action,  it  was  the  Presidential  battle,  and  that  made  the  can- 
vass long  and  arduous.  As  Chairman  of  the  State  Committee, 
Mr.  CORNELL  took  the  full  and  immediate  direction.  Never 
was  a  campaign  more  thoroughly  and  systematically  organized. 
A  hundred  speakers  were  on  the  stump;  scores  of  meetings 
were  daily  held;  all  the  local  committees  were  playing  their 
harmonious  parts;  the  whole  intricate  machinery  of  an 
intense,  absorbing  campaign,  stretching  over  the  entire  State 
and  aiming  to  concentrate  half  a  million  voters,  was  in  full 
motion.  It  was  the  touch  of  the  central  spring  in  the  hands 
of  the  chosen  chief,  that  largely  impelled  these  varied  and 
multiplied  movements.  Himself  untiring,  he  inspired  others 
with  his  own  energy.  Himself  full  of  faith,  others  caught 
from  him  the  infectious  spirit  of  confidence  and  enthusiasm. 
Such  was  the  general  sense  of  his  invaluable  services  that  it 
prompted  a  public  testimonial,  which  took  the  appropriate 
and  graceful  form  of  two  costly  and  superb  albums,  the  one 
embracing  the  photographs  and  the  other  the  accompanying 
letters  of  the  candidates  and  of  those  who  shared  the  labors 
of  the  campaign  ;  a  testimonial  in  which  President  GRANT, 
Vice-President  WILSON,  Senator  CONKLING,  Speaker  ELAINE 
and  many  of  the  most  illustrious  men  in  the  State  and  the 
nation  cordially  united.  Rarely  has  so  extraordinary  a  tribute- 
been  paid  or  been  so  well  deserved. 


ALONZO  B.  CORNELL.  133 

The  campaign  with  which  Mr.  CORNELL  was  so  promi- 
nently identified  in  the  interest  of  his  party,  also  brought 
his  own  election  as  a  Member  of  Assembly,  from  the  Eleventh 
district  of  New  York.  This  was  followed  by  his  unanimous 
nomination  to  the  Speakership,  as  already  stated.  In  this 
difficult  and  trying  position,  as  in  every  other  place,  he  has 
acquitted  himself  with  eminent  success.  From  the  very  first, 
he  has  shown  much  of  that  peculiar  native  gift  which  dis- 
tinguishes the  true  presiding  officer,  and  which  can  scarcely 
be  acquired.  Ready  in  resource,  prompt  in  decision,  impar- 
tial in  judgment,  cordial  and  unaffected  in  manner,  and 
endowed  with  rare  tact,  he  has  become  as  popular  with  his 
associates  as  he  is  expeditious  in  the  dispatch  of  business. 
It  is  but  the  common  expression  of  all  who  are  familiar  with 
Legislative  history,  that,  in  the  qualities  which  adorn  the 
chair,  he  justly  ranks  With  the  most  accomplished  and 
successful  Speakers  of  later  years.  But  he  is  more  than  an 
executive  and  presiding  officer.  His  impression  is  felt  in 
shaping  legislation,  and  moulding  public  policy,  and  in  this 
sphere  he  is  actuated  by  a  high  and  conscientious  sense  of 
public  duty,  as  he  is  guided  by  clearness  of  perception  and 
wisdom  of  judgment. 

In  personal  appearance,  Mr.  CORNELL  is  at  once  attractive 
and  commanding.  Of  full  proportions,  with  dark,  clear  eye, 
and  clean-shaven  face,  his  features  expressive  both  of  decision 
of  character  and  of  a  genial  disposition,  and  possessing  the 
stamp  of  animation  and  intellect,  his  whole  bearing  is  that 
of  the  courteous  gentleman.  Though  yet  only  in  the  early 
prime  of  life,  he  has  had  a  successful  and  promising  career, 
and  has  proved  himself  equal  to  every  position  in  which  he 
has  been  placed. 


134  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


FRANK  ABBOTT. 


Mr.  ABBOTT,  who  capably  represents  the  Second  district  of 
Orange  county,  claims  New  Haven  as  his  birth-place.  He 
was  born  February  9,  1828,  of  parents  who  were  also  natives 
of  Connecticut.  As  is  the  case,  generally,  with  Connecticut 
youth,  Mr.  A.  received  a  good  common  school  education, 
and  learned  a  trade  before  he  reached  his  majority,  conse- 
quently he  is  a  thoroughly  competent  machinist  and  en- 
gineer, and,  in  addition  to  his  services  as  a  legislator,  has, 
for  the  last  three  years,  filled  the  position  of  master  mechanic 
of  the  Erie  railway  shops  at  Port  Jervis,  and  also  the  office 
of  engine-dispatcher,  having  charge  of  the  engineers  and 
firemen  located  at  that  place,  both  of  which  are  offices  of 
much  responsibility,  requiring  not  only  superior  mechanical 
skill,  but  decided  executive  ability  in  the  performance  of 
their  duties.  In  1802  and  1803,  he  rendered  important 
service  in  operating  the  United  States  military  railroads. 
His  labors  in  this  connection,  always  arduous,  were  some- 
times exceedingly  dangerous. 

Mr.  ABBOTT  was  the  first  to  institute  and  put  in  practical 
operation  the  co-operative  plan  of  life  insurance,  which  has, 
for  a  number  of  years,  been  a  very  economical  and  popular 
method  of  insurance  with  railway  engineers,  conductors 
and  other  classes ;  he  has  held  the  office  of  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  the  Engineers'  Association  since  its  first  organi- 
zation in  1807.  The  association  numbers  over  three  thousand 
members,  and  pays  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  dollars  per 
month  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  members. 

Mr.  A.  was  a  member  of  the  last  House,  to  winch  he  was 
elected  by  the  Republicans,  receiving  a  majority  of  549  over 
HKXKY  B.  OGDE.Y,  his  Democratic  opponent.  He  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Trade  and  Manufactures  and  Civil 


FRANKLIN  A.  ALB  ERG  ER.  135 

Divisions.  Last  fall  he  was  re-elected  by  the  Democrats  and 
Liberal  Republicans,  defeating  R.  H.  CHAMBERLAIN,  Repub- 
lican, by  a  majority  of  about  GOO.  Mr.  ABBOTT'S  political 
history  is  somewhat  varied.  Formerly  a  Democrat  of  the 
strictest  sect,  the  issues  of  the  war  placed  him  on  the  side 
of  Republicanism,  and  up  to  the  last  campaign  he  acted 
with  that  party.  Entering  heartily  into  the  Cincinnati 
movement,  however,  he  supported  the  late  HORACE  GREELEY 
for  President,  and  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  as  a  Liberal. 
In  the  present  House  he  is  a  member  of  the  Committees  on 
State  Prisons  and  Grievances. 

Mr.  ABBOTT  is  a  man  possessing  a  good  deal  of  force  of 
character  and  practical  ability,  and  performs  his  legislative 
duties  quietly  and  unostentatiously,  yet  effectively. 


FRANKLIN  A.  ALBERGER. 


Few  men  who  figure  in  State  politics  occupy  a  more  con- 
spicuous position  than  the  member  from  the  Third  district  of 
Erie  county ;  and  it  may  also  be  added  that  few  have  been 
identified  to  a  greater  degree  with  the  material  and  com- 
mercial progress  of  the  commonwealth.  Representing  a  con- 
stituency largely  composed  of  those  connected  with  the 
mercantile  and  shipping  interests,  and  being  himself  one  of 
that,  class,  he  has  a  clear  appreciation  of  the  importance  of 
developing  to  the  utmost  every  means  likely  to  augment  the 
commercial  greatness  of  the  State.  His  long  experience  as 
Canal  Commissioner  has  also  given  him  a  thorough  insight 
into  the  workings  of  the  great  arteries  of  inter-communica- 
tion, and  enabled  him  to  fully  understand  their  relation  to 
the  stupendous  eastward  movement  of  the  agricultural  pro- 
ducts of  the  great  west.  He  has,  therefore,  always  been  the 
earnest  advocat  •  o"  every  project  which  commended  itself  to 


136  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

his  judgment  as  likely  to  effect  an  increase  in  the  capacity  of 
the  canals,  and  enable  them  to  successfully  compete  with 
other  transportation  routes  from  the  west  to  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board. His  views  upon  the  subject  of  canal  policy  are  not 
only  clear  and  decided,  but  liberal  and  progressive,  and 
founded  upon  a  regard  for  the  best  interests  of  the  State  at 
large,  rather  than  of  special  localities.  Indeed,  his  convictions 
upon  every  subject  brought  before  the  Legislature  are  quickly 
and  generally  judiciously  formed  and  tenaciously  adhered  to. 
Enjoying  a  large  business  experience,  as  well  as  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  State  affairs,  and  also  of  men  and  events,  Mr. 
ALBERGER  is  peculiarly  qualified  to  perform  the  duties  of 
legislation. 

Born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  on  the  14th  of  January,  1825,  of 
parents  who  were  both  natives  of  that  city,  Mr.  ALBERGER 
received  a  liberal  education  in  district  and  select  schools.  He 
removed  to  Buffalo  at  the  age  of  17  years,  and  engaged  in  the 
butchering  and  provision  business,  which  he  prosecuted  suc- 
cessfully until  the  year  18G8.  He  early  became  very  active 
in  the  local  politics  of  Erie  county,  and  was  prominently 
identified,  first  with  the  Whig  and  then  with  the  Republican 
party.  It  is  a  notable  fact,  in  this  connection,  that  he  was 
a  member  of  the  last  Whig  convention,  and  also  of  the  first 
Republican  convention  held  in  Erie  county.  He  was  also 
Secretary  of  the  first  Republican  meeting  held  in  the  city  of 
Buffalo,  and  a  member  of  the  first  County  Committee  of  that 
party,  acting  as  its  Treasurer  during  a  period  of  ten  years. 
During  the  native  American  campaigns,  Mr.  ALBERGER 
was  decided  in  his  hostility  to  the  movement  —  his  uncom- 
promising opposition  to  every  thing  savoring  of  Know- 
nothingism  being  doubtless  still  remembered  by  those  fami- 
liar with  the  political  contests  of  those  days. 

Mr.  ALBERGER'S  known  ability  and  integrity  have  marked 
him  as  peculiarly  a  fit  man  in  almost  any  capacity.  He  has. 
therefore,  often  been  called  upon  to  fill  positions  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  As  early  as  1854.  he  was  elected  an  Alderman 


FRANKLIN  A.  ALBEROER.  137 

of  Buffalo,  and  was  reflected  in  1858  and  1859.  In  1860 
the  people  of  Buffalo  chose  him  as  their  mayor,  and  so 
acceptably  did  he  fill  the  position  during  the  term  of  two 
years,  that  the  eyes  of  the  State  at  large  were  turned  upon 
him.  and  in  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Canal  Com- 
missioner, in  which  he  served  six  years,  two  successive  terms, 
being  nominated  each  time  by  acclamation.  Mr.  A.  is  now 
serving  his  third  consecutive  term  as  Member  of  Assembly, 
and  it  is  a  sufficient  indication  of  his  growing  popularity  to 
state  that  his  majorities  were,  respectively,  in  1870,  189;  in 
1871,  881 ;  and,  in  1872,  1,801. 

Besides  these  public  positions,  strictly  political  in  their 
nature,  Mr.  ALBERGER  has  held  numerous  private  and  busi- 
ness trusts.  During  the  war,  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Mili- 
tary Relief  Fund  of  the  city  of  Buffalo,  and  was  also  Chair- 
man of  the  committees  charged  with  raising  and  equipping 
the  21st  and  49th  Regiments  of  volunteers.  The  last-named 
regiment  was  raised  with  such  celerity  that  it  was  the  first 
completed  regiment  raised  outside  of  New  York  city  under 
the  second  call  for  volunteers. 

As  a  public  speaker,  Mr.  ALBERGER  is  forcible  and  fluent. 
His  speeches  usually  bristle  with  a  formidable  array  of  facts 
raid  figures,  and  upon  them  he  relies  rather  than  upon  fervid 
eloquence,  or  brilliant  rhetoric.  He  takes  part  in  the 
debates  upon  all  questions  which  come  before  the  House, 
and  displays  equal  familiarity  with  the  subject,  whether  it 
relate  to  government,  law,  social  reform  or  commerce.  In 
religious  belief  and  connection  Mr.  ALBERGER  is  a  Presby- 
terian, but  his  views  on  religion,  as  on  other  subjects,  are 
broad  and  liberal.  He  was  married  June  16,  1847,  to  Miss 
KATE  RICE. 


138  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


ISAAC   H.    BABCOCK. 


Mr.  BABCOCK,  who  represents,  for  the  second  time,  the  first 
Niagara  district  in  the  Assembly,  was  born  in  Rensselaer- 
ville,  Albany  county,  on  the  20th  of  September,  1830.  In 
his  early  youth,  his  parents  removed  to  Somerset,  Niagara 
county,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  the  borders  of  Lake 
Ontario,  a  region  of  unsurpassed  fertility.  Here  young  BAB- 
COCK  spent  his  youth,  working  on  the  farm,  and  attending 
school  during  the  winter  months.  His  father,  JEPTHA  "W. 
BABCOCK,  represented  the  Second  district  of  Niagara  in  the 
Assemblies  of  1851  and  1852,  being  elected  by  the  Whigs,  and 
is  still  living  at  Lockport,  engaged  in  active  pursuits. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen,  young  BABCOCK  entered  the  Wilson 
Collegiate  Institute,  having  previously  obtained  considerable 
rudimentary  instruction  in  the  common  schools.  The  ensuing 
six  years  were  devoted  to  study,  some  time  being  spent  in  the 
Lockport  Union  School,  and  he  graduated  from  the  first- 
named  institution  in  1852.  Several  years  later  he  settled  in 
Lockport.  engaging  successfully  in  nursery  and  fruit  grow- 
ing, and  entering  the  married  state  soon  after,  he  settled 
permanently  in  the  suburbs  of  that  thriving  city.  The 
prominence  which  he  subsequently  attained  as  a  successful 
horticulturist  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  in  1870  he  was 
chosen  President  of  the  Niagara  County  Agricultural  Society. 

Mr.  BABCOCK'S  political  career  dates  back  some  fifteen 
years,  when  lie  was  known  as  a  Free  Soil  Whig.  When  the 
Republican  party  was  organized,  however,  he  was  one  of  its 
first  members,  and  has  since  been  unswerving  in  his  fidelity 
to  its  principles.  He  was  a  candidate  for  County  Clerk,  in 
1802,  when  HORATIO  SKYMOTU  was  elected  Governor,  but, 
owing  to  the  presence  of  a  third  candidate  in  the  canvass,  he 
lacked  seven  votes  of  an  election,  the  Democrats  carrying  the 
county  by  a  small  majority.  In  the  years  1807  and  1808  he 


ISAAC  H.  BABCOCK.  139 

served  with  credit  in  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  1871,  he 
received  an  unsolicited  nomination  to  the  Assembly,  and 
though  his  district  is  a  very  close  one,  and  his  opponent, 
AY.M.  8.  FARNELL,  was  professedly  favorable  to  reform,  Mr. 
BABCOCK  was  successful  by  a  majority  of  265. 

In  the  Assembly  of  1872,  he  acquitted  himself  with  entire 
satisfaction,  serving  upon  the  Insurance  Committee  and  upon 
the  Committee  on  Expenditures  of  the  House.  The  insur- 
ance investigation  of  the  last  session  is  fresh  in  the  mind  of 
the  public.  Mr.  BABCOCK  was  a  member  of  the  Sub-Com- 
mittee which  conducted  the  investigation  into  the  charges 
against  Mr.  MILLER,  the  then  Superintendent  of  the  Insur- 
ance Department ;  and  he,  with  other  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee, was  called  upon  to  perform  exacting  and  laborious 
service,  spending  several  weeks  in  Xew  York  and  Albany  in 
taking  evidence.  It  has  been  alleged  that  strong  influences 
were  brought  to  bear  to  control  their  final  action,  but  the 
committee  made  a  report  sustaining  the  charges,  and.  as 
is  now  matter  of  history,  the  Assembly  promptly  passed  a 
resolution  expelling  Mr.  MILLER  from  his  office.  Mr.  BAB- 
COCK'S  part  in  this  trying  investigation  was  cordially  indorsed 
by  his  constituents,  who  gave  him  the  compliment  of  a  unani- 
mous renomination  last  fall,  and  he  was  re-elected  by  a 
majority  of  542,  Mr.  FARXELL  again  being  his  opponent. 

In  the  present  session  lie  has  been  prominent  in  another 
important  investigation,  acting  as  Chairman  of  the  special 
committee  to  inquire  into  alleged  frauds  connected  with  the 
recent  transfer  of  the  Erie  railway  directory. 

Mr.  BABCOCK  is  a  man  of  quiet  and  unassuming  manners, 
polished  and  genial  in  social  intercourse,  and  extremely  indus- 
trious and  regular  in  his  habits.  Ik-  has  alivadv  made  his 
mark  as  a  capable  and  efHeient  legislator,  and  has  shown 
himself  worthy  of  still  further  honors  at  the  hands  of  his 
fellow  citizens. 


140  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JOHN  P.  BADGER. 


JOHN  PEASLEE  BADGES  was  bora  in  Ossipee,  Carroll 
county,  N.  IT.,  August  3,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  WM.  P.  C. 
BADGER,  a  native  of  Compton,  P.  Q.,  but  born  of  American 
parents.  While  yet  in  early  infancy  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  this  State,  and  is  consequently  a  New  Yorker  to  all 
intents  and  purposes.  His  father  and  mother  are  still  living 
in  comfortable  circumstances,  the  former  being  about  sixty 
years  of  age.  Young  BADGER  Avas  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  though  his  early  life  was  spent  upon  the  farm 
and  in  a  country  store,  of  which  he  was  proprietor  for 
several  years,  he  availed  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  pre- 
pare himself  for  the  legal  profession,  to  which  he  looked 
forward  as  his  chosen  pursuit.  He  finally  entered  the  Albany 
Law  School,  graduated  with  credit  in  November,  1871,  and, 
shortly  afterward,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Since  that  time 
he  has  practiced  law  with  marked  success,  ranking  already 
as  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  in  his  county. 

Mr.  BADGER  learned  his  first  political  lessons  in  the  Ameri- 
can party,  and  was  an  ardent  member  of  that  party  during 
its  brief  existence,  voting  for  MILLARD  FILLMORE  for  Presi- 
dent. When  its  elements  were  scattered  he  identified  him- 
self with  the  Republicans,  with  whom  he  has  continued  to 
act  up  to  the  present  time,  lie  is  constitutionally  quite  an 
active  man,  and  has  therefore  been  a  participant  in  Franklin 
county  politics  for  a  number  of  years  past.  Twice  he  has 
been  elected  to  represent  his  town  in  the  Board  of  Super- 
visors—  in  1870  and  1872.  Though  his  town  was  formerly 
Democratic,  he  carried  it  when  first  elected  by  a  majority 
of  32.  In  his  second  canvass  his  majority  was  4G,  in  a  total 
vote  of  300;  and  last  fall  he  carried  it  by  the  gratifying 
majority  of  141,  his  entire  majority  in  the  county,  over  W. 
W.  PADDOCK,  being  1,214,  or  about  forty  votes  ahead  of  the 


GEORGE  BALTZ.  141 

State  ticket.     These  figures  speak  well  for  the  popularity  of 
the  Franklin  county  member  at  home. 

Mr.  BADGER'S  frank  and  modest  deportment  and  evident 
ability  attracted  attention  very  early  in  the  present  session, 
and  he  has  already  demonstrated  great  aptitude  for  legisla- 
tive duties.  .He  is  a  consistent  and  earnest  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  possesses  a  character  entirely  above 
reproach.  He  was  married  in  January,  1855,  to  Miss  EMILY 
E.  PHELPS. 


GEORGE  BALTZ. 


Mr.  BALTZ,  an  active  and  Avide-awake  German  Eepublican, 
of  the  city  of  Buffalo,  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  the 
Assembly.  He  was  born  in  Odernheim,  Hesse  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  on  the  llth  of  August,  1837,  and  may  therefore 
be  ranked  among  the  younger  members  of  the  House.  He 
received  a  liberal  education  in  the  German  common  schools, 
and  being  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  shrewdness  and 
intelligence,  he  attained  prominence  as  a  politician  very  soon 
after  he  came  to  this  country.  He  located  at  Buffalo,  where 
he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  political  campaigns  for  several 
years  past.  From  the  start  he  identified  himself  with  the 
Eepublican  party,  and  he  has  also  labored  with  zeal  and 
enthusiasm  to  induce  his  countrymen  to  act  as  a  unit  witli 
that  political  organization.  For  several  years  past  he  has 
made  it  a  practice  to  stump  the  counties  of  Erie,  Niagara, 
Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus,  speaking  usually  in  the  Ger- 
man tongue.  His  speeches  are  characterized  by  thorough 
earnestness  and  convincing  logic,  and  are  delivered  with  a 
pointed  energy  which  sends  their  truths  straight  to  the  hearts 
of  those  to  whom  they  arc  addressed.  His  success,  there- 
lore,  lias  been  very  great.  With  an  unusually  active  mind, 
and  broad  views  upon  oil  the  questions  of  the  day.  it  was 


142  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

very  natural  that  Mr.  BALTZ  should  turn  his  attention  to 
journalism  as  a  means  of  more  thoroughly  Americanizing 
his  countrymen,  who  constitute  no  inconsiderable  portion  of 
the  population  of  Buffalo.  He  became  the  proprietor  of  the 
Freie  Presse,  a  daily  and  weekly  journal,  which  has  attained 
a  large  circulation  among  his  German  constituency,  and  is 
doing  good  service  in  the  Republican  cause. 

Mr.  BALTZ  held  the  office  of  City  Auditor  of  Buffalo  in 
1869,  and  during  the  next  two  years  was  an  Assistant  Asses- 
sor of  Internal  Revenue.  He  was  elected  to  the  Assembly 
of  1872  by  a  majority  of  626,  and  served  in  that  body  on  the 
Committees  on  Petitions  of  Aliens,  and  the  Militia.  Last 
fall  he  was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  646,  and  now  serves 
on  the  Committees  on  Charitable  and  Religious  Societies, 
Public  Printing,  and  Militia. 


GEORGE  S.  BATCHELLER. 


Gen.  BATCHELLER  is  certainly  entitled  to  be  ranked 
among  the  most  popular  and  distinguished  members  of  the 
present  House.  He  was  born  in  Batchellerville,  Saratoga 
county,  February  25,  1836,  and  has  therefore  just  completed 
his  thirty-seventh  year,  lie  is  descended  from  a  somewhat 
illustrious  ancestry.  His  father's  family  were  originally  Irish, 
and  went  to  Spain  with  the  O'DoxOHUE.  From  thence, 
after  several  generations,  their  descendants  found  their  way 
to  this  country,  and  settled  in  Massachusetts.  Gen.  B.'s 
father.  SHEKMA.V  BATCIIELLEH,  was  born  in  Vermont,  and 
was  a  nephew  of  ROGER  SHERMAX,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  was  also  related,  though 
distantly,  to  DANIEL  WEBSTER'S  family.  He  died  suddenly 
in  1862.  The  General's  mother  was  of  English  descent,  and 
a  native  of  Massachusetts.  Gen.  BATCHELLER  is  a  thoroughly 


GEORGE  S.  BATCHELLER.  143 

educated  gentleman,  having  graduated  at  Harvard  University, 
and  received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  from  the  law  school  of 
that  institution.  He  entered  Harvard  in  the  junior  year, 
but,  owing  to  a  family  affliction,  he  was  obliged  to  suspend 
his  studies.  He  returned,  however,  and  completed  the  scien- 
tific course  successfully,  receiving  a  diploma  which  entitles 
him  to  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  In  1858,  about  a  year  after 
leaving  college,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  soon  rose  to 
eminence  in  his  profession.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he 
was  elected  to  the  Assembly  from  the  same  district  now  rep- 
resented by  him.  This  proved  the  stepping-stone  to  what 
is  as  yet  an  uncompleted  career  of  brilliant  and  honorable 
public  service. 

Two  or  three  years  later  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke 
out.  lie  entered  the  volunteer  service,  acting  as  Major 
until  he  was  commissioned  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Fifteenth  New  York  Volunteers,  and, 
though  but  recently  married,  he  went  to  the  front  with 
that  command.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  and  skir- 
mishes in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  until  he  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Harper's  Ferry,  in  September  of  the  same 
year.  Early  in  1863  he  was  exchanged,  and  received  the 
appointment  of  Deputy  Provost-Marshal-General  in  the 
department  of  the  South.  He  held  this  responsible  position, 
having  under  his  charge  all  the  civil  and  military  matters 
pertaining  to  that  office,  within  those  portions  of  South 
Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida  within  our  lines,  until  the 
winter  of  1804,  serving  under  Generals  HUNTER,  GILMORE, 
SEYMOUR  and  others.  Subsequently  he  was  transferred  to 
Flmira  to  look  after  drafted  men  for  his  department,  and 
there  honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  receiving  the 
rank  of  brevet  Colonel. 

hi  18<!o  he  was  appointed  Inspector-General  on  the  staff 
of  Governor  FENTOV.  and  held  the  position  during  the  four 
years'  administration  of  that  official.  While  Inspector- 
General,  he  reorganized  the  National  Guard  throughout  the 


144  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

State,  and,  as  President  of  the  Auditing  Board,  examined 
and  presented  to  the  general  government  claims  of  the  State 
for  organizing  volunteer  forces,  amounting  to  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  which  the  United  States  have 
since  allowed  and  paid. 

In  18G8  he  ran  as  GRAXT  elector  for  the  Eighteenth, 
now  Nineteenth,  Congressional  district.  Since  1868  Gen. 
BATCIIELLER  has  applied  himself  diligently  to  his  profession, 
and  to  the  enjoyment  of  those  home  pleasures  to  which  he 
had  almost  become  a  stranger.  Last  fall,  however,  the  Kepub- 
licans  of  his  district  tendered  him,  with  one  accord,  the 
nomination  for  the  Assembly,  and,  after  a  lively  canvass,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  that  body  by  the  largest  majority 
ever  given  in  the  district,  although  his  opponent.  CHARLES 
H.  HOLDEX,  was  an  agent  of  the  Delaware  and  Hudson 
Canal  Company,  and  backed  by  the  influence  of  that  organi- 
zation, the  managers  of  which  made  special  efforts  to  elect 
him.  Speaker  CORXELL  paid  a  marked  compliment  to  Gen. 
B.'s  sagacity  and  knowledge  of  State  affairs,  by  selecting  him 
as  Chairman  of  the  Canal  Committee,  a  position  for  which 
he  possesses  special  qualifications.  He  is,  besides,  a  member 
of  the  Committee  on  Militia. 

Gen.  BATCHELLER  is  a  man  of  fine  figure,  polished  manners 
and  pleasant  address.  Courteous  alike  to  friends  and  oppo- 
nents, he  is  in  every  respect  the  affable  and  genial  gentleman. 
With  fine  oratorical  powers  and  rare  forensic  ability,  he 
unites  a  ready  appreciation  of  legislative  requirements,  and 
is,  therefore,  a  skillful  and  effective  debater.  He  is  at  all 
times  keenly  alive  to  the  Avelfare  of  his  immediate  con- 
stituents, but  he  is  as  watchful  of  the  interests  of  the  entire 
State,  and  every  measure  designed  to  effect  genuine  reform 
in  State  or  municipal  government,  or  likely  to  advance  the 
commercial  prosperity  of  the  commonwealth,  invariably 
enlists  his  sympathy,  and.  should  bis  judgment  approve,  his 
enthusiastic  advocacy.  Few  men  in  the  State  enjoy  a  larger 
measure  of  personal  popularity,  or  have  yet  before  them  a 


GEORGE  M.  BEEBE,  145 

more  promising  future.  Gen.  BATCHELLER  is  a  man  of 
family,  having  married,  in  1861,  the  daughter  of  the  late 
Hon.  JAMES  M.  COOK. 


GEORGE  M.  BEEBE. 


GEORGE  MONROE  BEEBE  was  born  in  New  Vernon,  Orange 
county,  on  the  28th  of  October,  1836.  He  is  the  son  of  GIL- 
BERT BEEBE,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  who,  still  living  in 
Middletown,  Orange  county,  at  the  advanced  age  of  72,  is 
actively  engaged  in  the  varied  occupation  of  preaching  the 
gospel  and  publishing  the  Signs  of  the  Times,  a  religious 
newspaper.  Mr.  BEEBE  secured  a  good  education  at  the 
common  schools  and  at  the  Wallkill  Academy,  Middletown, 
graduating  from  the  latter  in  1854.  Next  year  he  com- 
menced studying  law  in  the  office  of  GEO.  "YV.  LORD,  in  Mon- 
ticello,  attending  in  the  mean  time  the  requisite  courses  of 
lectures,  and  graduated  from  the  Albany  LaAV  University,  in 
1857,  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Law.  A  year  later 
he  went  to  Peoria,  111.,  where,  on  the  recommendation  of 
STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS,  he  had  been  selected  to  edit  a  Demo- 
cratic daily  newspaper.  Though  young  in  years,  he  was  an 
earnest  and  spirited  writer,  and  rendered  efficient  service  in 
the  memorable  campaign  of  1858,  accompanying  DOUGLAS  in 
his  famous  tour  of  discussion  with  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN.  At 
the  close  of  the  campaign  he  settled  in  Troy,  Kansas,  and 
commenced  practicing  law  in  earnest.  He  succeeded  in 
making  himself  so  popular  there  that  in  about  a  year  he 
was  elected,  notwithstanding  his  pronounced  Democracy,  to 
represent  the  Republican  county  of  Doniphan  in  the  Terri- 
torial Council.  While,  still  a  member  of  the  Council,  he  was 
appointed  Secretary  of  the  Territory  by  President  BUCHAN- 
AN. Subsequently,  by  the  resignation  of  Gov.  MEDARY,  he 
10 


146  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

became  acting  Governor,  and  although  he  had  not  yet  com- 
pleted his  twenty-third  year,  he  was  continued  in  the  posi- 
tion by  the  President,  until  Kansas  was  admitted  into  the 
Union. 

In  1861  he  married  CORNELIA,  the  eldest  daughter  of 
JAMES  H.  FOSTER,  of  Monticello.  Subsequently,  he  practiced 
law  during  a  year  or  more  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  but  in  August, 
1862,  he  went  overland  to  Virginia  City,  Nevada,  where  he 
again  "  nailed  up  his  shingle  "  as  an  Attorney  and  Counselor 
at  law.  "Wherever  he  located  he  gained  speedy  popularity. 
In  1864,  when  Nevada  was  admitted  as  a  State,  we  find  Mr. 
BEEBE  the  nominee  of  a  Democratic  Convention  for  District 
Judge,  for  which  office  he  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority. 
Subsequently  he  declined  the  appointment  of  United  States 
Internal  Eevenue  Collector  for  Nevada,  which  was  tendered 
by  President  JOHNSON,  but  he  consented  to  represent  the  new 
State  in  the  Philadelphia  Convention  of  1866.  In  October 
of  that  year  he  purchased  the  Mouticello  Watchman,  a  Demo- 
cratic journal,  and  removing  at  once  to  Monticello,  he  has 
since  conducted  that  paper  with  marked  ability  and  success. 
In  the  fall  of  1871  Mr.  BEEBE  was  the  Democratic  nominee 
in  the  Orange  and  Sullivan  district  for  the  State  Senate,  and 
took  strong  ground  against  the  use  of  money  in  elections, 
tendering  a  public  challenge  to  his  opponent  to  unite  with 
him  in  a  pledge  not  to  use  money  in  the  canvass.  He  was 
beaten,  however,  Hon.  E.  M.  MADDEN,  the  present  Senator 
from  that  district,  being  successful.  Last  spring  he  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Rochester  Convention,  and  strongly  opposed  the 
policy  of  indorsing  GREELEY.  He  also  fought  the  idea  with 
warmth  and  earnestness  in  his  paper;  but  after  the  Baltimore 
Convention,  being  left  with  the  only  alternative  of  "  GRANT  or 
GREELEY,"  he  felt  constrained  to  support  the  latter.  He  was 
also  sent  as  a  Delegate  to  the  Syracuse  Convention,  and  Avas 
unanimously  chosen  its  permanent  President,  in  which  posi- 
tion he  displayed  marked  ability  as  a  presiding  officer.  He 
took  active  part  in  the  subsequent  campaign,  stumping  the 


BERNARD  BIQLIN.  147 

State  for  the  Liberal  Democratic  ticket.  His  nomination  for 
the  Assembly  was  made  by  acclamation  in  both  the  Liberal 
and  Democratic  Conventions,  and  he  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  664,  though  the  county  gave  GRANT  a  majority  of  some 
200. 

As  will  be  gathered  from  this  sketch,  Mr.  BEEBE  is,  and 
always  has  been,  an  unflinching  Democrat.  On  entering  the 
Assembly  he  at  once  assumed  a  prominent  position  among 
the  members  of  the  "  opposition,"  and  his  career  as  a  legis- 
lator is  certainly,  thus  far,  a  brilliant  one.  Possessing  rare 
oratorical  powers,  he  is  cool,  incisive  and  compact  in  argu- 
ment, thinks  rapidly,  and  is  prompt,  either  in  availing  him- 
self of  the  Aveak  points  of  his  opponent,  or  in  arranging  his 
own  line  of  attack  or  defense.  He  is  frequently  strongly 
denunciatory  in  his  speeches,  using,  in  his  polished  invective, 
the  plainest  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  cutting  words  in 
the  language.  He  is  also  master  of  the  art  of  sarcasm,  and 
often  covers  an  antagonist  with  confusion  by  a  deftly  hurled 
shaft  of  ridicule.  The  member  from  Sullivan  is  justly  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  forcible  and  effective  debaters  in  the 
present  House. 


BERNARD  BIGLIN. 


There  are,  perhaps,  few  readers  of  newspapers  who  are 
unfamiliar  with  the  aquatic  exploits  of  the  BIGLIN  brothers, 
the  celebrated  New  York  oarsmen,  but  there  are  many, 
doubtless,  who  will  now  learn  for  the  first  time  that  one  of 
these  brothers,  Avhose  name  heads  this  article,  is  a'Bepresenta- 
tive  in  the  State  Assembly. 

BERNARD  BIGLIN  was  born  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  4th  of  September,  1841.  His  parents,  JOHN  and 
ELLEX  HART  BIGLIN,  were  natives  of  Ireland,  and  are  both 
deceased.  Their  family  consisted  of  eighteen  children,  of 


148  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

whom  ten  are  now  living,  six  brothers  and  four  sisters. 
Young  BIGLIN  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and, 
locating  in  New  York  at  an  early  age,  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship as  brass  moulder  with  Mr.  S.  B.  H.  VANCE,  now  Presi- 
dent of  the  New  York  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  proprietor 
of  the  largest  chandelier  manufacturing  establishment  in 
the  country.  Completing  his  apprenticeship  in  1860,  he  soon 
after  obtained  a  position  as  Inspector  in  the  New  York  Cus- 
tom House,  which  he  held  three  years.  From  1863  until 
1867  he  was  an  Inspector  in  the  Internal  Revenue  Depart- 
ment. Subsequently  he  was  appointed  Ganger  in  the  Internal 
Revenue  Department,  but  resigned  when  elected  to  the 
Assembly. 

Always  a  Republican,  Mr.  BIGLIN  has  occupied  a  promi- 
nent position  in  New  York  politics  for  a  number  of  years, 
taking  an  active  part  in  the  primaries  and  conventions  of 
the  party.  He  has  served  as  delegate  at  all  the  Republican 
State  Conventions  for  five  years  past,  and  is  now  in  the 
Assembly  as  the  representative  of  the  eighteenth  Assembly 
district  Republican  Association.  His  district,  which  is 
usually  strongly  Democratic,  gave,  in  1871,  a  Reform  Demo- 
cratic majority  of  4,034.  Mr.  BIGLIN  had  three  candidates 
opposed  to  him  last  fall  —  PETER  SEERY,  Tammany,  and 
WM.  J.  SHIELDS  and  JOHN  P.  CROSBY,  both  Apollo  Hall,  the 
last  named  being  indorsed  by  the  Committee  of  Seventy,  but 
he  was  successful  by  a  plurality  of  612 ;  certainly  a  very  grat- 
ifying result.  The  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  friends 
was  well  placed,  as  he  is  a  very  active  and  industrious  mem" 
ber,  and  watches  closely  the  interests  of  his  constituents. 

Had  we  the  requisite  data  at  hand  it  would  be  interesting 
to  refer  with  some  particularity  to  Mr.  BIGLIN'S  career  as  an 
oarsman,  which  has  been  very  brilliant.  The  crew  of  which 
he  and  his  brother  JOHN  Avere  the  organizers  and  leading 
spirits,  and  which  included  five  of  the  BIGLIX  brothers, 
obtained  a  wide  reputation,  and  were  virtually  the  champions 
of  the  United  States  during  a  long  period,  being  victorious 


CHARLES  BLACKIE.  149 

in  numerous  contests  on  the  lakes  and  rivers  in  various  parts 
of  the  country.  The  BIGLINS  are  not  "  sporting  men,"  as 
the  phrase  is  generally  understood,  and  never  prostitute 
their  rowing  abilities  to  the  object  of  gambling,  as  is  too 
often  the  case.  They  are  imbued  with  a  thorough  enthu- 
siasm for  the  pursuit,  and  are  using  their  best  efforts  to 
spread  a  love  for  the  manly  and  rigorous  art,  with  the 
laudable  object  of  improving  and  developing  the  physique 
of  the  rising  generation.  This  is  so  well  understood  in  JS'ew 
York  that  their  athletic  school  is  patronized  by  the  best  anl 
wealthiest  citizens  of  the  metropolis,  and  a  large  number  of 
amateur  oarsmen  owe  their  proficiency  to  the  tuition  received 
from  the  BIGLINS.  Their  service  is  also  frequently  called  in 
requisition  to  train  and  instruct  racing  crews  in  other  parts 
of  the  country. 

As  may  be  presumed,  Mr.  BIG  LIN  is  a  man  of  good 
physique.  He  is  about  the  medium  height,  well  and  com- 
inictlv  built,  light  hair  and  moustache,  light  blue  eyes,  and 
generally  a  pleasing  expression  of  countenance.  He  is, 
withal,  a  gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  He  was 
married  some  years  ago  to  MARY  ANN  GRUNDY.  In  religious 
faith  he  is  a  Catholic. 


CHARLES  BLACKIE. 


Mr.  BLACKIE  represents  the  thirteenth  Assembly  district 
of  New  York  in  the  present  Legislature,  and  constitutes  a 
very  fair  personification  of  the  young  Bepublican  element  of 
that  city.  The  district  was  represented  last  yairby  GEORGE 
MrK.\Y,  also  a  Republican,  previous  to  which  it  was  in  the 
hands  of  Tammany.  Mr.  BLACKIE  received  the  decided 
plurality  of  1,305,  against  McKAY's  majority  of  110,  which 
shows  either  that  Republicanism  is  making  rapid  progress  in 
the  Sixteenth  Ward  of  Xcw  York,  or  that  Mr.  BLACKIE  is  a 


150  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

very  popular  man.  Mr.  B.  was  born  in  New  York  city  on 
the  7th  of  October,  1836,  and  received  a  very  thorough 
academic  education.  He  engaged  in  a  mercantile  business 
soon  after  leaving  school.  This  he  continued  until  1868, 
when  he  accepted  the  position  of  Weigher  in  the  New  York 
Custom  House,  which  he  held  up  to  the  time  of  his  election. 
In  the  recent  canvass  he  was  elected  as  a  straight  Republi- 
can, his  opponents  being  Mr.  CHRISTOPHER  FINE,  Democrat, 
JAMES  KELLET,  Liberal,  and  JOHM  F.  HAGAN,  Independ- 
ent. 

Mr.  BLACKIE  is  a  young  man  of  great  activity  and  busi- 
ness capacity,  having  already  shown  a  striking  aptitude  for 
legislative  duties ;  with  the  practical  experience  in  law- 
making,  which  he  is  rapidly  acquiring,  he  gives  promise  of 
becoming  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  mark  in  the  As- 
sembly. 


ANDREW  BLESSING. 


ANDREW  BLESSING  is  from  the  seventeenth  New  York  dis- 
trict, and  is  now  serving  his  first  term  as  a  member  of  Assem- 
bly. Born  in  the  county  of  Cavan,  Ireland,  in  the  year  1844, 
he  came  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  and  obtained 
a  very  fair  education  in  the  common  schools  of  New  York 
city.  He  learned  the  trade  of  boiler  maker,  and  worked  at 
that  and  kindred  mechanical  employments  for  several  years, 
when  he  obtained  a  lucrative  clerkship  in  a  mercantile 
house,  and  finally  drifted  into  the  real  estate  business,  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged.  In  the  course  of  business,  Mr. 
BLESSING  has  visited  nearly  every  part  of  the  country,  and 
is  therefore  very  thoroughly  acquainted  with  American  insti- 
tutions. He  has  always  retained  his  residence  in  New  York, 
however.  Possessing  decided  natural  ability,  and  being  a 
shrewd  observer  of  men  and  events,  he  is,  Avithal,  a  man  of 


JOSEPH  BLUMENTHAL.  151 

much  practical  common  sense,  and  a  fair  representative  of 
the  active  and  energetic  Irish-American. 

Mr.  BLESSING  is  not  a  politician,  strictly  speaking,  having 
never  formally  identified  himself  with  any  of  the  numerous 
political  organizations  in  the  metropolis ;  but  he  has  always 
been  known  as  an  uncompromising  Democrat  of  the  Tam- 
many school,  and  as  such  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature 
by  a  plurality  of  596,  three  candidates  being  opposed  to  him. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Grievances,  and  State 
Prisons. 

Though  very  quiet  and  reserved  in  manner,  Mr.  BLESSING 
is  a  useful  and  capable  man  in  the  Assembly,  and  performs 
his  duties  with  praiseworthy  diligence  and  modesty. 


JOSEPH  BLUMENTHAL. 


Mr.  BLUMENTHAL,  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  New 
York  city  members,  was  born  in  Munich,  the  capital  of 
Bavaria,  December  1, 1834,  and  came  to  this  country  with  his 
parents,  LAWRENCE  and  REBECCA  BLUMENTHAL,  and  their 
family  of  six  other  children,  when  he  was  but  five  years  old. 
Both  his  parents  are  dead.  He  Avas  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  in  1853  went  to  California,  residing  while  there 
in  Mariposa  county,  celebrated  as  the  locality  of  the  famed 
Yosemite  valley  and  falls.  He  remained  in  California  but 
five  years,  returning,  in  1858,  to  New  York,  where  he  engaged 
in  business  as  an  importer  and  merchant,  with  very  satisfac- 
tory results. 

Always  a  straightforward  Democrat,  Mr.  BLUMENTHAL 
has  never  until  now  held  any  office,  but  he  has  participated 
actively  in  the  political  contests  of  New  York  city  for  many 
years  past,  and  has  secured  wide  prominence  by  reason  of  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  municipal  reform,  and  for  the  deration 


152  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

i 

of  honest  and  capable  men  to  official  position.     He  was  one 

of  the  earliest  and  most  persistent  opponents  of  the  corrupt 
ring  that  has  disgraced  and  well  nigh  ruined  the  Democratic 
party  in  the  metropolis.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Seventy  since  its  organization,  serving  on  such 
important  sub-committees  as  Elections,  Investigation  of 
Frauds,  Nominations,  etc. 

Last  winter  he  was  active  in  urging  the  passage  of  what  was 
known  as  the  Keform  Charter,  and  during  the  present  session 
he  has  been,  probably,  the  most  active  opponent  of  those 
features  of  the  Charter  measure,  which  proposed  to  abolish 
the  Board  of  Assistant  Aldermen,  and  curtail  the  power  of 
the  Mayor  in  making  appointments,  representing  the  views 
of  the  Committee  of  Seventy.  He  made  several  able  speeches 
during  the  discussion  of  the  measure,  and  the  courtesy, 
moderation,  and  entire  freedom  from  personality  or  acrimony 
which  characterized  his  participation  in  the  exciting  debates, 
were  the  subject  of  complimentary  remark  among  opponents 
and  friends. 

In  the  election  last  fall  he  received  the  indorsement  of 
Tammany  Hall,  the  German  Reformers,  the  Committee  of 
Seventy,  and  the  Council  of  Municipal  Beform,  and  received 
a  plurality  of  1,169,  although  there  were  four  strong  candi- 
dates in  the  field  against  him.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Cities,  and  Engrossed  Bills. 

A  man  of  decided  ability  and  much  practical  good  sense, 
Mr.  BLUMEXTHAL  is  quick  to  understand  the  bearings  of 
every  question  which  he  is  called  upon  to  consider,  and 
therefore  possesses  qualities  invaluable  in  the  legislator.  He 
is  also  a  thorough  gentleman  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 
and  his  excellent  social  traits  render  him  popular  in  a  very 
large  circle  of  acquaintances.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Jewish 
persuasion. 


FRANCIS  B.  BREWER.  153 


FRANCIS  B.  BREWER. 


Mr.  BREWER  is  a  descendant  of  revolutionary  stock,  his 
grandfather  having  held  the  rank  of  colonel  in  the  struggle 
with  the  mother  country.  His  father,  EBEJSTEZER  BREWER, 
who  died  some  years  since,  was  also  familiar  with  the  trying 
scenes  of  that  period,  and  held  a  captain's  commission  in 
the  war  of  1812.  They  were  both,  we  believe,  natives  of 
Xew  Hampshire.  Mr.  BREWER  was  himself  born  in  Keene, 
N.  11.,  and  is  now  a  robust  and  well-preserved  gentleman  of 
perhaps  fifty  years  of  age.  He  enjoyed,  when  young,  the 
advantages  of  a  liberal  education,  and  early  determined  to 
enter  the  medical  profession.  He  therefore  pursued  with 
diligence  the  general  and  scientific  courses  at  Dartmouth 
College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1843.  Two  years  later 
he  graduated  with  honor  from  the  medical  department  of 
the  same  institution.  He  practiced  his  profession  but  five 
years,  however,  when  he  entered  the  lumbering  business  at 
Oil  creek  in  Pennsylvania.  This  was  about  the  year  1850, 
when  the  oleaginous  treasures  of  that  region  were  practically 
unknown  to  the  world.  Mr.  BREWER  perceived  the  value 
of  the  deposits  before  they  attracted  general  attention,  and 
it  is  an  interesting  fact,  that  in  his  clear  and  practical  brain 
was  formed  the  first  feasible  plan  to  secure  and  utilize  the 
petroleum  oozing  through  the  soil.  As  early  as  1858  he, 
with  several  other  gentlemen  of  energy  and  means,  formed 
the  first  oil  company,  and  inaugurated  a  branch  of  commerce 
which  has  since  reached  gigantic  proportions,  and  added 
immensely  to  the  wealth  of  the  world. 

Mr.  BREWER  was  reasonably  successful  in  his  ventures  in 
the  oil  region,  and  finally  removed  to  Westfield,  in  Chautau- 
qua  county,  when-  he  has  since  resided,  having  become  a 
wealthy  and  substantial  citizen  of  that  thriving  village.  He 


154  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

devotes  his  attention  mainly  to  supervising  the  affairs  of  the 
Westfield  Lock  Works,  of  which  he  is  the  sole  proprietor. 
He  is  also  President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Westfield, 
a  flourishing  institution. 

He  has  frequently  been  the  recipient  of  political  honors 
from  his  fellow  citizens,  Avith  whom  he  is  held  in  very  high 
regard.  Several  times  he  has  been  elected  to  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  and  once  or  twice  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board. 
Mr.  B.  always  discharged  his  duties  satisfactorily  in  this  local 
legislative  body,  acting  on  all  questions  for  the  best  interests  of 
the  county  and  the  town  he  represented.  During  the  war  he 
rendered  important  service  as  special  State  Agent  to  the  hospi- 
tals, and  also  to  the  soldiers  in  camp.  This  office  he  held, 
with  rank  of  Major,  by  appointment  of  Governor  FEXTON", 
and  from  the  time  of  his  appointment,  in  the  winter  of  1864, 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  instrumental  in  relieving 
an  immense  amount  of  suffering  among  the  brave  men  who 
composed  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Mr.  BREWER  was  a  Whig  until  the  formation  of  the  Ee- 
publican  party,  since  which  time  he  has  always  been  actively 
identified  with  Republican  measures  and  men.  In  person, 
he  is  somewhat  portly,  and  rather  above  the  medium  height. 
His  flowing  light  brown  beard,  in  which  a  few  white  hairs 
are  sprinkled,  gives  him  a  slightly  venerable  appearance, 
which  is  contradicted,  however,  by  the  vigorous  frame,  elastic 
step,  and  florid,  healthy  complexion  which  characterize  him. 
Dignified  and  courteous  in  bearing,  a  man  of  well-balanced 
intellect  and  unusually  ripe  judgment,  he  is  in  the  full 
prime  of  intellectual  and  physical  manhood,  and  is  in  all 
resoects  an  able  and  upright  legislator. 


ELIJAH  E.  BROWN.  155 


ELIJAH  E.  BROWN. 


The  Second  district  of  Cayuga  is  well  represented  in  the 
person  of  Hon.  ELIJAH  E.  BROWN,  of  Niles.  No  man  in 
the  House  enjoys  in  greater  degree  the  respect  and  regard  of 
his  fellow-members,  or  the  confidence  of  his  constituents, 
and  the  fact  is  due  as  well  to  the  decided  ability  and  excellent 
judgment  he  possesses  as  to  the  natural  courtesy  of  manner 
and  kindliness  of  disposition  which  he  takes  pains  to  mani- 
fest toward  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

Mr.  BROWN  was  born  in  Hancock,  Berkshire  county, 
Mass.,  April  9, 1816.  He  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  six 
children,  and  when  but  seven  years  old,  his  father  moved  to 
JSTiles,  Cayuga  county,  and  purchased  a  farm.  Young  BROWN 
was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  remaining  steadily  at  home 
until  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  varied  the  routine  of  farm 
life  by  a  pretty  constant  attendance  at  the  district  school, 
where  he  developed  a  passion  for  mathematics,  spending 
much  of  his  leisure  in  working  out  difficult  problems.  It 
was  intended  that  he  should  have  a  liberal  education,  but  his 
father's  health  failed  to  that  extent  that  it  was  desirable  that 
the  son  should  remain  and  manage  the  farm,  which  he  did 
until  his  parent  died,  in  May,  1854.  Mr.  BROWN  therefore 
received  no  instruction  outside  of  the  common  schools,  be- 
yond that  obtained  in  a  select  school  one  winter.  When  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one,  however,  he  went  west  and 
invested  largely  in  land,  his  father  furnishing  means  for  that 
purpose.  After  being  absent  about  a  year,  he  disposed  of 
his  purchase  at  a  large  advance,  and  returned  to  Cayuga 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

In  September,  1840,  he  was  married  to  Miss  ANN  CHENEY, 
a  daughter  of  ZACCHEUS  CHENEY,  with  whom  Hon.  MILLARD 
FILLMORE  served  an  apprenticeship  and  learned  the  trade 
of  a  clothier.  Mr.  BROWN  continued  to  manage  his  father's 


156  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

farm  as  well  as  another  farm  which  he  purchased  himself, 
embracing  in  all  some  360  acres,  for  a  number  of  years, 
devoting  his  attention  especially  to  stock  breeding.  He  still 
owns  one  of  the  farms,  though  for  the  past  ten  or  fifteen 
years  he  has  done  little  but  supervise  his  agricultural  opera- 
tions. Of  late  years  he  has  turned  his  mathematical  knowl- 
edge to  account  in  the  business  of  surveying. 

Mr.  B.'s  ancestry  have  been  somewhat  noted  as  well  as 
numerous.  His  father  was  born  in  Killuigly,  Conn.,  in  1773, 
and  was,  therefore,  too  young  to  be  of  service  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  but  the  family,  in  its  different  branches,  were 
somewhat  prominent  in  that  struggle.  His  father's  ancestry 
were  English  on  the  paternal  side,  and  Irish  on  the  mother's. 
His  maternal  great-grandfather,  WILLIAM  SMITH,  was  com- 
pelled to  flee  from  Ireland,  because  of  some  trouble  incident 
to  hot-headed  youth,  and  subsequently  became  a  Lieutenant 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  maternal  ancestors  of  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  lived  in  Rhode  Island  for  several 
generations;  his  grandfather  on  that  side  being  a  noted  sea 
captain. 

Mr.  BROWX'S  political  record  is  in  every  way  honorable. 
He  commenced  life  as  a  Whig,  casting  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  HARRISON.  Acting  with  the  Whigs  unt'1  the  party 
dissolved,  he  was  among  the  first  to  cast  his  lot  with  the 
Republicans,  and  up  to  the  present  time  he  has  steadily  given 
his  efforts  to  secure  the  success  of  the  principles  and  candi- 
dates of  that  organization.  In  his  town,  and  in  his  county, 
he  has  been  recognized  as  an  active  and  influential  worker 
in  the  Republican  ranks,  and  his  counsel  has  been  highly 
valued  and  always  sought.  Occupying  such  a  position,  he 
has  frequently  been  called  to  fill  public  office.  In  1856  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  held  the  office  until 
1869,  adding  to  its  duties  from  1859  to  1863  those  of  Justice 
of  Sessions.  In  the  years  1866  and  1867  he  represented  his 
town  in  the  Cayuga  county  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  each 
of  these  positions  he  displayed  ability  and  judgment,  and 


ELIJAH  E.  BROWN.  157 

succeeded  in  adding  to  the  regard  in  which  he  was  held  by 
the  people.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly by  a  majority  of  1,608,  and  so  well  did  he  fulfill  the  trust 
reposed  in  him,  that  he  was  returned  in  the  fall  of  1872,  by 
the  increased  majority  of  1,772,  defeating  WILLIAM  P.  Sis- 
sox,  a  Liberal  Republican. 

It  is  not  alone  as  a  politician  that  Mr.  BROWN  has  won 
prominence,  however.  He  has  always  evinced  an  unselfish 
regard  for  the  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he  resides. 
During  the  war  he  was  the  leading  spirit  among  those  in  his 
county  who  aided  in  sustaining  the  government.  When 
hostilities  first  began,  he  advanced  the  money  necessary  to 
pay  the  first  installment  of  recruits,  trusting  to  the  good 
faith  of  the  town  to  make  good  the  amount.  Subsequently 
he  was  intrusted  with  the  duty  of  filling  the  quota  of  the 
town,  and  it  was  by  his  active  exertions,  mainly,  that  the 
quotas  were  promptly  filled  at  every  call,  as  he  devoted  his 
time  and  money  largely  to  that  end.  Large  quantities  of 
hospital  stores  were  also  sent  to  the  army  through  his  aid, 
much  of  the  incidental  expense  of  which  was  defrayed  from 
his  private  purse. 

Mr.  BKOWX  is  held  in  very  high  regard  by  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  House,  because  of  his  numerous  graces  of  char- 
acter. Modest  and  unobtrusive  in  manner,  dignified  and 
courteous  in  deportment,  a  thorough  gentleman,  and  a 
pleasant  acquaintance,  he  unites,  with  all  these  qualities, 
ability  and  thoroughness  in  performing  his  legislative  work. 
He  is  therefore  popular  with  all,  and  though  he  seldom 
makes  a  speech,  he  is  admittedly  one  of  the  most  valuable 
members  of  the  rtresent  Assemblv. 


158  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JAMES  H.  BROWN. 


Mr.  BROWN  represents  the  Second  district  of  Ulster  county. 
He  is  a  large-framed  man,  of  about  fifty  years  of  age,  and 
occupies  quite  a  prominent  position  in  the  community  where 
he  resides.  In  his  early  days  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  black- 
smith, but  after  working  at  it  for  a  number  of  years  he 
bought  the  farm  on  which  he  has  since  resided,  and  which 
he  cultivated  during  a  long  period.  For  several  years  past 
he  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
and  has,  therefore,  to  a  great  extent,  remitted  agricultural 
labors  to  other  hands.  He  filled  the  office  of  Justice  with 
dignity  and  ability,  and  has,  besides,  occupied  other  positions 
of  a  public  nature,  enjoying  in  a  large  measure  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  have  occasion  to  know  him. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  226, 
defeating  OSCAR  MULFORD,  his  Democratic  opponent.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Affairs  of  Villages,  and 
Commerce  and  Navigation,  and  though  not  specially  con- 
spicuous as  a  public  speaker  or  as  a  politician,  he,  never- 
theless, effectively  represents  a  large  and  intelligent  con- 
stituencv.  Seldom  absent  from  his  seat  in  the  chamber,  he 
at  all  times  evinces  comprehension  of  the  business  of  legis- 
lation and  diligence  in  the  performance  of  his  duties. 


J.  LYMAN  BULKLET  159 


J.  LYMAN  BULKLEY. 


JUSTUS  LYMA.N"  BULKLEY,  for  fifteen  years  a  successful 
Physician  and  Surgeon  of  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  county,  was 
born  in  Fairfield,  Herkimer  county,  August  20,  1832.  His 
father,  PETER  H.  BULKLEY,  born  in  the  year  1800,  and  a 
native  of  this  State,  died  when  young  BULKLEY  was  but 
eleven  years  old,  leaving  his  son  little  besides  an  inheritance 
of  poverty.  Compelled  thus  early  to  fight  his  way  in  the 
world,  he  did  not  shrink  from  the  contest,  but  proceeded, 
under  the  counsel  of  his  worthy  mother,  who  is  still  living, 
to  secure  an  education.  Although  for  a  number  of  years  he 
was  compelled  to  work  in  the  capacity  of  a  farm  laborer,  he 
eventually  succeeded  in  his  object.  He  studied  the  English 
branches  in  an  academy,  and  when  he  was  able  to  do  so, 
entered  college.  He  passed  through  Madison  University, 
graduating  in  1857,  with  an  honorary  degree,  and  after- 
ward graduated  with  all  the  honors  from  the  New  York 
Opthalmic  Hospital  College.  He  immediately  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  and  has  pursued  it 
with  such  success  that  he  now  enjoys  a  reputation  second 
to  none  in  the  county.  It  Avill  be  seen,  therefore,  that  Dr. 
BULKLEY  is  in  the  fullest  sense  a  self-made  man,  and  owes 
all  that  he  has  and  is  to  his  own  individual  exertions. 

Dr.  BULKLEY  has  always  been  an  earnest  Republican,  and 
has  found  time  to  devote  considerable  attention  to  party 
politics,  in  which,  in  his  county,  he  is  a  leading  spirit. 
Besides  holding  the  office  of  Coroner  during  one  term,  and 
being  an  incumbent  of  the  post  of  Pension  Surgeon  for  three 
years  past,  he  has  held  a  number  of  minor  offices,  and  is 
always  active  at  local  conventions  and  primaries.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  last  fall  by  a  majority  of  about  1,700, 
defeating  GILBERT  "W.  HAKDIXG,  his  Democratic  opponent. 
He  serves  acceptably  on  the  Committees  on  Education  and 


160  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Public  Lands,  and  though  he  cannot  be  numbered  among 
the  talkers  of  the  House,  he  is  an  energetic  and  efficient 
member. 


DENNIS  BURNS. 


Mr.  BURNS,  who  comes  from  the  Second  district  of  the 
metropolis,  is  a  pleasant  and  sociable  gentleman,  just  turning 
his  forty-sixth  year.  Blunt  and  plain  of  speech,  he  yet 
possesses  a  kind  heart,  and  a  sympathetic  disposition.  The 
direct  and  merciless  little  speeches  which  frequently  burst  from 
him,  are  invariably  reserved  for  opposing  political  schemes, 
or  questionable  measures  of  legislation.  They  are  never  the 
vehicles  of  ill-nature  or  malice,  though  he  is  unsparing  in  his 
denunciation  of  every  thing  which  does  not  agree  with  his 
notions  of  right  and  wrong. 

Mr.  BURNS  was  born  in  Ireland,  in  the  year  1827,  and 
came  to  Xew  York  when  he  was  abrmt  ten  years  of  age. 
Shortly  after  his  arrival  in  the  metropolis,  he  was  apprenticed 
to  a  stone-cutter.  He  learned  the  trade  thoroughly,  and 
worked  at  it  a  number  of  years,  but  its  effect  upon  his  health 
was  such  that  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  it.  He  subse- 
quently obtained  a  clerkship  in  the  County  Clerk's  office,  and 
still  holds  the  position. 

He  has  been  active  in  Xew  York  politics  for  many  years, 
being  well  known  in  the  down-town  wards,  and,  indeed,  in  the 
city  at  large.  Always  a  Democrat  of  the  Tammany  stripe, 
he  has  never  swerved  from  his  allegiance,  and  is,  to-day,  one 
of  the  most  wide-awake  representatives  of  that  organization 
upon  the  floor.  He  was  first  elected  to  the  Assembly,  in  the 
fall  of  1807,  beating  in  the  canvass  two  Union  Democrats, 
by  a  plurality  of  1.101.  He  made  a  satisfactory  record  during 
his  first  year  of  service,  being  a  member  of  the  Committees  on 
Banks,  and  Claims.  In  the  fall  of  1868,  he  was  re-elected  by 


DENNIS  BURNS.  161 

a  majority  of  over  6,000,  his  opponent  being  a  Eepublican. 
With  the  exception  of  the  year  1872,  when  the  district  was 
represented  by  Mr.  DUN  PHY,  an  Apollo  Hall  Democrat,  Mr. 
BURNS  has  occupied  a  seat  in  the  House  since  1867.  In 
1870,  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee,  on  Insurance, 
and  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Charitable  and  Religious 
Societies.  In  the  present  House,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittees on  Aliens,  and  Indian  Affairs. 

In  person  Mr.  BURNS  is  about  the  medium  height,  stoutly 
built,  somewhat  florid  complexion,  nearly  white  hair  and 
moustache,  and  that  cast  of  countenance  and  contour  which 
indicates  a  bull-dog  tenacity  of  purpose.  He  watches  the 
course  of  legislation  closely,  and  being  very  prompt  in  grasp- 
ing a  subject  in  its  various  bearings,  it  is  a  favorite  habit  of 
his  to  break  in  upon  the  elaborate  arguments  of  the  more 
oratorical  legislators  with  a  brief  but  forcible  and  unanswer- 
able query  or  proposition  which  often  plays  the  mischief 
with  finely  spun  theories.  He  possesses  plenty  of  sound 
common  sense,  which,  with  a  fair  education,  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  inner  workings  of  that  mystery  known  as 
JS'ew  York  politics,  and  a  familiarity  with  the  details  of  leg- 
islation, renders  him  a  very  efficient  member.  His  social 
qualities  and  many  fine  traits  of  character  constitute  him  a 
favorite  with  an  extensive  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances, 
ani  there  are  few  men  who  are  able  to  appreciate  a  good  joke 
with  greater  readiness  than  DENNIS  BURNS. 


11 


162  LIFE  SKETOUES, 


LEONARD  BURRITT. 


Mr.  BURRITT,  who  represents  the  Third  district  of  Monroe 
county,  is  one  of  the  "always  reliable"  Republicans  of 
the  lower  House.  He  makes  few  speeches,  but  invariably 
votes  "  right,"  is  invaluable  in  the  committee  room,  and  has 
a  sharp  eye  for  the  wishes  of  his  constituents.  He  was  once 
a  Whig,  but  since  Whigism  became  a  thing  of  the  past  he 
has  been  a  steadfast  Republican.  He  was  born  in  Chili, 
Monroe  county,  his  father  being  ISAAC  BURRITT,  now 
deceased.  Brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  receiving  in  the  mean 
time  a  pretty  thorough  common  school  and  academic  educa- 
tion, he  has  remained  a  farmer  until  the  present  time,  but 
manages  also  to  attend  to  other  pursuits.  From  1862  until 
1870  he  filled  the  position  of  United  States  Assistant  Asses- 
sor for  Monroe  county.  In  the  fall  of  1867  Mr.  BURRITT 
was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  890,  and  last 
fall  by  a  majority  of  985,  a  decided  gain. 


TIMOTHY  J.  CAMPBELL. 


The  pleasant  face  of  the  genial  and  popular  member  from 
the  Sixth  district  of  Kew  York  is  as  familiar  to  the  regular 
habitues  of  the  Capitol  as  is  the  appearance  of  the  ancient 
pile  itself.  He  boasts  a  longer  continuous  service  than  any 
other  member,  except  JOHN  C.  JACOBS,  and  though  he 
stands  in  point  of  age  with  the  younger  members,  his  long 
experience  and  close  habit  of  observation  have  rendered  him 
an  excellent  politician.  He  sprung  from  a  Scottish-Irish 
ancestry,  and  unites  the  firmness,  persistency  and  frankness 
of  the  Scotch  character,  with  the  characteristic  humor,  hearty 
friendship  and  unswerving  fidelity  of  the  Irish.  With  a 


TIMOTHY  J.  CAMPBELL,  163 

nature  imbued  with  such  sterling  qualities,  it  is  not  strange 
that  Mr.  CAMPBELL  has  troops  of  friends  in  the  metropolis 
and  elsewhere. 

Born  in  the  county  of  Cavan,  Ireland,  in  January,  1840, 
young  CAMPBELL  was  brought  to  New  York  by  his  parents 
when  he  was  but  five  years  old.  At  suitable  age  he  was 
placed  at  a  common  school,  where  he  remained  until  the  age 
of  twelve.  His  parents  were  in  straightened  circumstances, 
however,  and  this  fact,  as  well  as  his  restless  and  ambitious 
spirit,  impelled  him  to  seek  a  means  by  which  to  earn  his 
own  livelihood.  Leaving  school,  therefore,  before  he  had 
fully  realized  its  benefits,  he  entered  a  printing  office.  By 
his  own  act,  as  well  as  by  the  necessities  of  the  case,  he  Avas 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  under  the  tuition  of 
stern  necessity  he  learned  the  habits  of  industry  and  self- 
reliance  which  have  brought  him  to  his  present  position. 
Always  watchful  and  studious,  he  availed  himself  fully  of 
the  many  opportunities  for  acquiring  general  knowledge 
afforded  by  a  printing  office,  gradually  making  up  for  early 
deficiencies  in  book-learning  by  attending  evening  schools. 
He  also  joined  a  debating  club,  gaining  by  active  partici- 
pation in  its  discussions  that  familiarity  Avith  parliamentary 
practice,  and  with  the  social  and  political  topics  of  the  day, 
which  has  since  been  very  valuable  to  him.  In  the  mean 
time  he  passed  through  all  the  grades  of  the  printer's  craft, 
from  the  fly-boy  of  the  press  to  general  office  manager.  On 
completing  his  apprenticeship  he  worked  several  years  at  the 
trade,  serving  in  several  job  offices  in  New  York,  and  also  in 
Ihc  various  newspaper  offices,  including  the  Herald,  Exprcxs, 
and  News. 

During  a  portion  of  the  year  I860,  while  portentous  war- 
clouds  were  rolling  up  from  the  southern  horizon,  Mr. 
CAMPBELL  sojourned  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  and  was  conneclcd 
with  the  office  of  the  Dispatch  of  that  city.  He  returned  to 
\r\v  York,  however,  before  the  storm  burst  upon  the  country, 


164  LIFE  SKETCHES, 

and  has  since  resided  there,  serving  during  several  years  as 
a  clerk  in  the  county  clerk's  office. 

Mr.  CAMPBELL  has,  for  a  number  of  years  past,  been  active 
in  metropolitan  politics,  his  ability  as  a  local  manager 
securing  him  a  position  as  Chairman  of  his  district  on  the 
Tammany  General  Committee,  which  he  still  holds.  He  has 
always  been  a  steadfast  adherent  of  the  Tammany  wing  of 
the  Democracy,  and  so  popular  is  lie  in  his  Assembly  district, 
that  all  the  mutations  through  which  Tammany  has  recently 
passed  have  not  resulted  in  materially  reducing  the  majori- 
ties by  which  he  is  annually  elected  to  the  Legislature. 

Mr.  CAMPBELL  was  a  member  of  the  fire  department  in 
the  good  old  days  of  the  "volunteer"  system.  In  that 
capacity  lie  was  behind  none  in  enthusiasm  and  daring,  and 
had  his  share  of  "perilous  adventures  and  hair-breadth 
'scapes." 

He  is  now  serving  his  sixth  term  as  Member  of  the  House, 
having  been  first  elected  in  18G7.  During  his  first  year  of 
service,  he  acted  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Roads 
and  Bridges,  and  as  Member  of  the  Committee  on  Internal 
Affairs.  Since  then  he  has  served  three  years  on  the  Com- 
mittee on  Cities,  and  has  been  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Petitions  of  Aliens. 

Mr.  CAMPBELL  is  a  man  of  medium  size,  compactly  built, 
well  proportioned,  and  quite  prepossessing  in  appearance. 


JACOB  B.  CARPENTER.  165 


JACOB  B.  CARPENTER. 


Nearly  a  century  ago  BENJAMIN  CARPENTER  purchased  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Stanford,  Dutchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and 
resided  upon  it  until  his  death,  in  1836.  His  son,  the  late 
MORGAN  CARPENTER,  was  there  born  in  1799,  and  in  1819 
married  MARIA,  daughter  of  Hon.  JACOB  BOCKEE.  His 
birthplace  was  also  his  residence  until  1852,  when  he  removed 
to  Pouglikeepsie,  where,  in  November,  1871,  he  died,  but  a  few 
months  the  survivor  of  hi:1  wife.  For  many  years  he  took 
an  active  interest  in  wool-growing,  and  his  flocks,  numbering 
about  o,000  sheep,  were  widely  celebrated  for  the  fineness  of 
their  fleeces.  An  ardent  and  influential  Whig  and  Republi- 
can,  he  sought  only  the  advancement  of  the  cause,  and  sel- 
dom occupied  any  official  position. 

JACOB  B.  CARPENTER,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  the 
son  of  MORGAN  and  MARIA  BOCKEE  CARPENTER,  and  was 
born  at  the  ancestral  homestead,  on  the  26th  day  of  July, 
1826.  He  received  a  collegiate  education,  graduating  at 
Union  College,  in  1846,  in  the  same  class  with  Hon.  HENRY 
II.  PIERSON  and  Ex-Governor  JOHN  T.  HOFFMAN.  After 
leaving  college  he  engaged  extensively  and  successfully  in 
agriculture  in  his  native  town  until  1864,  when  he  retired 
from  active  business,  and  removed  to  the  city  of  Poughkeep- 
sie,  where  lie  has  since  resided.  He  has  served  twice  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  and  in  1855,  having 
aided  as  a  delegate  in  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  but  declined  to  be  a  candi- 
date for  a  second  term.  In  1860  he  was  Presidential  Elector 
for  the  Twelfth  district,  and  voted  for  LINCOLN  and  HAM- 
LIN.  During  the  eleven  succeeding  years,  although  an 
earnest  Republican,  and  frequently  active  in  his  efforts  for 
the  success  of  the  party,  he  was  at  no  time  a  candidate  for 
office,  or  even  a  delegate  to  a  Convention.  After  the  pro- 


166  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

mulgation  of  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Cincinnati  Con- 
vention, he  espoused  the  Liberal  cause,  and  was  urged  by  the 
Liberals  and  Democra;s  to  accept  their  nomination  for 
Eepresentative  in  Congress.  Shortly  after  the  Congressional 
Convention,  a  joint  Convention  of  Liberals  and  Democrats 
unanimously  nominated  him  as  their  candidate  for  the  Assem- 
bly, and  upon  the  representation  that  they  could  harmonize 
only  upon  his  name,  he  yielded  to  their  solicitations,  and 
accepted  the  nomination.  The  election  resulted  in  giving 
him  a  majority  of  1,268  over  the  Republican  nominee, 
GEORGE  ESSELSTYNE,  Esq.,  a  talented  and  popular  lawyer 
of  Rhinebeck. 

The  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  citizens  of  his 
county  is  attested  by  the  fact  that,  whenever  a  candidate  for 
office,  he  has  never  failed  to  run  very  largely  ahead  of  the 
general  ticket.  In  1860  he  was  married  to  SARAH  E., 
daughter  of  the  late  STEPHEN  E.  THOUX,  Esq.,  of  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  attends  the  Episcopal  Church.  In  politics  he  is 
a  Liberal  Republican,  and  but  recently  received  the  unani- 
mous nomination  of  the  Liberal  and  Democratic  Convention 
as  their  candidate  for  Mayor  of  Poughkeepsie,  but  business 
reasons  compelled  him  to  decline  being  a  candidate. 


WILLIAM  S.  CLAPP. 


The  member  from  Putnam  county  is  Rev.  WM.  S.  CLAPP, 
of  Carmel,  where  he  has  resided  for  the  past  fifteen  years. 
He  is  the  son  of  CHESTER  CLAPP,  whose  ancestors  were 
direct  descendants  of  the  Puritans,  and  natives  of  North- 
ampton, Mass.  He  was  born  in  Ballston  Spa,  Saratoga 
county,  about  fifty  years  ago,  and  is  in  the  full  prime  of  a  vig- 
orous and  well-developed  manhood.  Mr.  CLAPP  early  chose 
the  ministry  as  his  profession,  and  was  educated  witli  that 
end  iii  view,  accomplishing  successfully  the  full  collegiate 


WILLIAM  8.  CLAPP.  167 

course  at  Madison  University,  and  graduating  in  1846.  Very 
soon  afterward  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  and  took 
charge  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  at  Albany,  where  he 
remained  four  years.  Since  then  he  has  preached  with 
decided  success  in  New  York  city,  at  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  at 
Carmel,  in  this  State.  Several  years  ago  he  enjoyed  a  brief 
respite  from  ministerial  duties  and  made  the  tour  of  Europe, 
from  which  his  keen  powers  of  observation  enabled  him  to 
profit  largely.  He  is  an  able  and  eloquent  preacher,  possessing 
fine  oratorical  abilities,  and  is,  withal,  a  gentleman  of  culture 
and  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  pleasant  manners  and 
exalted  personal  character. 

In  politics  Mr.  CLAPP  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
though  he  voted  twice  for  MARTIN  VAN  SUREST,  and  sympa- 
thized warmly  with  the  Liberal  movement  in  the  last  can- 
vass. He  endeavors,  however,  to  perform  his  duty  as  a  popu- 
lar representative  without  rigid  regard  to  party  lines,  though 
on  strict  party  questions  he  usually  votes  with  the  Republi- 
cans. He  was  elected  as  an  independent  candidate  by  a 
plurality  of  430,  running  against  the  regularly  nominated 
candidates  of  both  the  great  parties.  This  fact  is  sufficiently 
indicative  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  at  home. 

Mr.  CLAPP  has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife  was 
MARIA  MESICK,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  Albany  soon  after 
he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry.  Since  her -death  occurred 
he  married  Mrs.  C.  D.  KELLEY,  the  only  daughter  of  DAN- 
IEL !)RK\V.  the  distinguished  financier.  He  serves  acceptably 
on  the  Committees  on  Charitable  and  Religious  Societies, 
Public  Education,  and  Expenditures  of  the  House. 


108  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


GEORGE  W.  CLARKE. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  CLARKE  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Milton,  Saratoga  county,  on  the  2d  of  April,  1830.  His 
parents  were  plain,  honest,  well-to-do  people,  of  the  class 
which  gives  character  and  stability  to  our  more  flourishing 
rural  communities.  One  of  their  chief  aims  was  to  give  each 
of  their  children  a  good  education  ;  and,  therefore,  young 
CLARKE  was  enabled  to  gratify  the  desire  for  knowledge  which 
he  felt  at  quite  an  early  age.  He  passed  through  the  usual 
common  school  experience  of  youth,  and  at  the  proper  age, 
entered  Union  College  at  Schenectady,  from  whence  he  gradu- 
ated with  honor  in  the  year  1840.  It  was  intended  that  he 
should  enter  tJif  Christian  ministry,  but  the  state  of  his 
health  forbade  this,  and,  after  weighing  the  matter,  he 
decided  to  adopt  teaching  as  a  profession.  With  this  view 
he  took  up  his  residence  in  New  York  city,  and  soon  after 
founded  the  Mount  Washington  Collegiate  Institute  on 
Washington  square.  This  institution  still  nourishes,  and  has 
ranked,  for  many  years  past,  among  the  best  of  the  educa- 
tional establishments  in  New  York  city.  Its  course  of  study 
is  judicious,  thoroughly  systematized  and  progressive,  and 
numerous  graduates  of  the  institution  now  occupy  exalted 
positions  throughout  the  country.  Professor  CLARKE  is 
thoroughly  imbued  with  enthusiasm  and  love  for  his  profes- 
sion, untiring  in  his  efforts  to  elevate  the  standard  of  instruc- 
tion, to  extend  and  improve  the  modes  of  imparting  knowl- 
edge, and  to  enlarge  the  scope  of  human  thought. 

While  Prof.  CLARKE  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the 
ordinary  party  sense,  he  has  always  closely  watched  the 
developments  of  party  movements  and  policy,  and  invariably 
co-operated  with  that  organization  which,  in  his  view,  best 
represented  liberal  and  progressive  ideas  of  government.  In 


GEORGE  W.  CLARKE.  169 

his  younger  days  he  acted  with  the  Whig  party,  and  when 
that  dissolved  he  became  a  Republican.  Being  well  known 
in  the  metropolis  as  an  earnest  and  thoroughly  conscientious 
member  of  the  party,  he  was  frequently  called  upon  to  repre- 
sent his  fellow  Republicans  in  the  local  conventions  and 
organizations.  For  some  time  he  was  President  of  the 
Seventh  Assembly  District  Republican  Association,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  the  trust  with  dignity  and  judgment. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Elmira  Convention,  at  which  dele- 
gates were  chosen  to  Philadelphia,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
Utica  Convention  of  last  August,  and  had  the  honor  there 
of  presenting  Gen.  Dix  for  the  gubernatorial  nomination.  It 
is  not  out  of  place,  perhaps,  to  state  here  that  Prof.  CLARKE 
undoubtedly  had  as  much  to  do  with  bringing  Gen.  Dix 
forward  as  any  other  man.  Months  before  the  Convention 
met,  he  became  convinced  of  the  propriety  of  such  a  nomi- 
nation, and  strove  earnestly  to  bring  it  about.  Two  or  three 
weeks  before  the  Convention  met,  he  addressed  a  letter  on 
the  subject  to  Hon.  A.  B.  CORNELL,  Chairman  of  the  State 
Committee,  in  which  he  strongly  urged  the  nomination,  as 
an  effectual  means  of  uniting  the  reform  movement  with  the 
Republican  party,  and  of  opening  the  door  for  those  Demo- 
crats who  were  dissatisfied  with  the  GREKLEY  coalition. 
That  Gen.  Dix  was  nominated  and  triumphantly  elected  are 
mat  tors  of  history,  and  Prof.  CLAKKE  would  be  less  than 
human,  perhaps,  did  he  not  feel  proud  of  his  own  connection 
with  the  event. 

In  view  of  Prof.  CLARKE'S  prominence  and  known  probity 
of  character,  there  was  a  strongly  expressed  desire  among 
the  Republicans  of  his  district  that  he  should  represent  them 
in  the  Assembly  this  winter,  and  when  the  convention  met 
he  was  nominated  without  opposition.  He  accepted  the 
honor  with  considerable  reluctance,  but  he  entered  into  the 
canvass  with  spirit,  and  was  elected  by  the  gratifying 
majority  of  1,135.  He  proves  to  be  an  active  and  energetic 
member  of  the  House,  taking  part  in  nearly  all  the  debates 


170  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

on  general  as  well  as  local  questions,  devoting  his  attention 
more  particularly,  however,  to  the  latter.  He  is  an  efficient 
Member  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  and  also 
that  on  Charitable  and  Eeligious  Societies. 

Both  by  education  and  conviction,  Prof.  CLARKE  is  a  firm 
and  consistent  Presbyterian,  having  been  a  member  of  that 
religious  denomination  since  his  youth.  He  was  married  at 
Fort  Washington,  on  the  Hudson,  in  1847,  to  MARY  JANE 
McKiE,  a  daughter  of  THOMAS  McKiE  of  New  York  city. 


WILLIAM  V.  CLEARY. 


Mr.  CLEARY,  a  young  and  active  Democrat,  represents  the 
city  of  Troy,  where  he  has  resided  all  his  life,  and  for  several 
years  past  has  been  identified  with  its  business  interests. 
Born  in  Troy,  on  the  12th  of  September,  1847,  he  is  still  quite 
a  young  man,  but  he  takes  naturally  to  political  life,  and 
occupies  quite  a  prominent  position  in  the  local  councils  of 
his  party.  His  father,  KYRAX  CLEARY,  who  died  in  1861,  at 
the  age  of  45,  was  also  active  in  politics  and  was  once  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  The  younger  CLEARY 
received  a  good  education  in  the  common  schools,  and  was 
brought  up  in  the  business  followed  by  his  father,  the  manu- 
facture of  ale  and  porter,  and  on  his  father's  death,  he  took 
sole  charge  of  his  large  establishment,  conducting  it  with 
success  up  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  CLEARY  has  already  held  a  number  of  positions  in  the 
gift  of  his  party.  During  two  terms  he  occupied  a  scat  in 
the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  was  chosen  unanimously  at  his 
last  election.  In  1870  he  was  President  of  the  Board  of 
Common  Council,  and  filled  the  position  satisfactorily  to  the 
people,  and  with  credit  to  himself.  Two  years  ago  IK-  was 
Chairman  of  the  Democratic  Central  Committee.  He  was 


FREDERICK  COCHKU.  171 

elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  1,485,  over  DENNIS 
O'LouGHLiN,  an  independent  candidate.  Young,  vigorous, 
intelligent  and  capable,  Mr.  CLEARY  evidently  has  a  bright 
future  before  him.  He  is  still  unmarried,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 


FREDERICK  COCHEU. 


The  gentleman  who  represents  the  Seventeenth  district  of 
Kings  county  is  one  of  those  who  really  deserve  to  be  styled 
"  self-made/'  He  never  went  to  a  school  in  his  life,  his  parents 
being  too  poor  even  to  feed  and  clothe  him,  and  he  has 
earned  his  own  living  since  he  was  eight  years  old.  Conse- 
quently we  find  him  to-day  a  thoroughly  self-reliant,  ener- 
getic, and  well-informed  man  of  business,  and  possessing 
more  than  ordinary  force  of  character.  He  came  from  quite 
an  illustrious  stock,  as  his  father,  now  deceased,  was  a  native 
of  France,  and  had  the  honor  o'f  serving  in  the  body  guard 
of  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  His  mother  was  born  in  Orange 
county,  in  this  State,  where  her  ancestors  resided  for  several 
generations. 

Young  COCHEU  was  born  in  New  York  city,  on  the  30th 
of  March,  1832.  He  is  therefore  about  forty-one  years  of 
age.  His  youth  presents  no  feature  of  special  importance, 
save  the  fact  that  during  the  period  when  other  boys  go  to 
school,  he  was  acquiring  practical  knowledge  of  life  through 
the  teachings  of  adversity  and  bitter  experience.  Soon  after 
reaching  his  majority,  he  secured  a  position  on  the  police 
force  of  Brooklyn,  which  he  held  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Rebellion.  He  then  enlisted  as  a  private  in  a  battery  of 
artillery,  serving  with  honor  and  distinction  during  upward 
of  three  years  of  that  bloody  struggle.  His  valor  and  atten- 
tion to  duty  soon  secured  him  promotion  to  a  Lieutenancy, 


172  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

and  when  he  finally  came  home  he  held  the  commission  of 
Captain  in  the  61st  Eegiment,  New  York  volunteers.  He 
participated  in  most  of  the  battles  and  marches  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  performed  much 
arduous  service  in  North  Carolina  and  other  portions  of  the 
theater  of  war,  having  been  actively  engaged,  from  first  to  last, 
in  some  twenty-three  battles.  Always  a  brave  soldier  and 
efficient  officer,  Mr.  COCHEU  certainly  has  no  reason  to  feel 
ashamed  of  his  military  record. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  appointed  Internal  Revenue 
Inspector  for  Long  Island  and  Staten  Island,  and  during  two 
years  service  in  that  capacity  he  passed  upon  three  hundred 
and  eleven  cases  of  violation  of  the  revenue  laws.  During 
four  years  past,  he  has  been  President  of  the  Grand  Street 
and  Newtown  Railroad  Company. 

Always  a  Republican,  Mr.  COCHEU  has  been  very  active  in 
the  local  politics  of  his  district,  but  has  never  before  been 
elected  to  office.  The  fact  that  he  was  elected  by  a  decided 
majority,  in  a  district  recently  very  strongly  Democratic,  shows 
that  he  is  popular  at  home,  and  that  his  valuable  services  and 
undoubted  capacity  are  appreciated. 

Mr.  COCHEU  has  a  rather  dark  complexion,  with  a  coun- 
tenance which,  though  mild  and  pleasant  in  its  expression, 
denotes  a  strongly  marked  individuality.  He  does  not  have 
much  to  say,  but  he  manifests  keen  interest  in  the  progress 
of  legislation.  He  has  already  attained  prominence  in  the 
House,  and  is  known  as  a  man  of  fine  instincts  and  generous 
sympathies.  He  attends  the  Episcopal  Church. 


HENRY  J.  COGGESHALL.  173 


HENRY  J.  COGGESHALL. 


Mr.  COGGESHALL  was  born  at  Waterville,  Oneida  county, 
N.  Y.,  April  28th,  1845.  His  education  was  gained  at  the 
Seminary  in  his  native  village,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1862.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  entered  upon  a  course 
of  law  study  in  the  office  of  E.  II.  LAMB,  Esq.,  of  Water- 
ville. Being  admitted  to  the  practice  of  la\v  in  1806,  he  has, 
until  the  present  time,  been  sedulously  engaged  in  profes- 
sional labors  at  Waterville. 

From  1869  to  1872,  Mr.  COGGESHALL  held  the  position  of 
Assistant  District  Attorney  of  Oneida  county.  During  the 
past  year  he  has  been  chairman  of  the  Republican  Jtown 
committee  of  Sangerfield.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Waterville,  and  for  the  last  four  years  has  fre- 
quently been  elected  delegate  to  district  and  county  conven- 
tions. He  was  sent  as  delegate  to  the  Republican  State  con- 
vention held  at  Elmira  in  May,  1872,  and  was  there  elected 
alternate  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  convention 
held  in  Philadelphia. 

In  addition  to  the  political  trusts  imposed  upon  him  by 
his  constituents,  he  has  held  several  positions  of  honor  and 
popular  confidence  in  his  native  town,  having  been  for  sev- 
eral years  prominent  in  furthering  the  interests  of  church 
and  school,  and  various  charitable  enterprises. 

Mr.  COGGESHALL  is  well  known  in  Oneida  and  adjoining 
counties  as  an  eloquent  and  trenchant  speaker.  He  has  de- 
livered able  addresses  before  agricultural  and  temperance 
societies,  giving  expression  at  all  times  to  broad,  liberal 
and  generous  views.  As  a  friend  of  the  soldier  he  has,  with 
fervid  unction,  eulogized  the  memory  of  our  slain  military 
heroes,  on  successive  Decoration  Days,  and  has  ever  aimed  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  those  who  imperiled  their  lives  in 
our  country's  service. 


174  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

During  the  late  Presidential  campaign  he  rendered  valiant 
aid  t3  the  Republican  cause,  which  he  warmly  and  ingenu- 
ously espoused.  With  pen  and  voice  he  gave  his  best  efforts 
to  the  promotion  of  a  Republican  triumph,  performing  with 
ardor  the  onerous  duties  devolving  upon  him.  Possessing  a 
warm  and  sympathetic  heart,  a  clear  and  analytical  brain,  a 
calm  and  mature  judgment,  he  worked  with  energy  to  secure 
the  victory.  During  the  canvass  he  developed  remarkably 
his  great  natural  gifts ;  and  a  rare,  convincing  intellect  has 
placed  him  where  he  worthily  belongs,  among  the  foremost 
of  Oneida  county's  distinguished  political  orators. 

Mr.  COGGESHALL  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  462  over  REUBEN 
S.  BINGHAM,  Liberal. 


WILLIAM  W.  COOK. 


One  of  the  most  agreeable  members  of  the  New  York 
delegation  is  WILLIAM  W.  COOK,  who  is  now  serving  his 
fourth  consecutive  term  as  a  representative  from  the  Twelfth 
district  of  that  city.  He  rose  from  the  ranks  of  the  working- 
men,  and  owing  partly  to  his  well-known  personal  qualities 
and  partly  to  the  fact  that  he  is  ever  watchful  of  their  inter- 
ests. Mr.  COOK  is  very  popular  among-  that  class  in  the 
metropolis.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia  on  the  12th  of 
October,  1832.  When  he  was  but  two  years  old  his  parents 
removed  to  New  York  city.  He  attended  Public  School  Xo. 
4  quite  steadily  previous  to  his  fourteenth  year,  when  he  was 
apprenticed  to  the  trade  of  mason.  He  served  faithfully 
four  years,  when  he  laid  aside  the  trowel,  and  has  not  since 
resumed  it  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  In  1854  he  was 
appointed  to  an  important  position  in  the  melting  and 
refining  department  of  the  United  States  Assay  Office, 
which  he  held  until  he  was  elected  to  the  Assemblv  in  the 


JOHN  COPE.  175 

fall  of  1869.  The  manner  in  which  he  performed  his  duties 
while  in  the  service  of  the  government  demonstrated  his 
fitness  for  almost  any  position  requiring  industry,  integrity 
and  general  ability,  and  he  gained  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

Mr.  COOK  has  always  affiliated  with  the  Tammany  wing  of 
the  Democracy,  invariably  carrying  his  district  by  very 
decided  majorities.  In  1809  his  majority  over  two  competi- 
tors was  1,500 ;  in  1870,  1,298  ;  in  1871,  over  three  competi- 
tors, 274 ;  and  in  1872,  G39.  He  has  served  on  various  com- 
mittees, among  which  may  be  mentioned  those  on  Banks, 
Public  Health  Printing,  Manufacture  of  Salt,  and  others. 
In  this  session  he  is  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Petitions 
of  Aliens,  and  the  Sub-Committee  of  the  Whole. 


JOHN   COPE. 


Mr.  COPE  is  of  English  descent,  his  father,  who  was  born 
in  Staffordshire,  in  the  year  1798,  emigrating  to  this  country 
about  the  year  1800.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on 
(he  1st  of  March,  1821.  at  New  Lisbon,  Otsego  county,  and 
he  is  therefore  about  fifty-two  years  of  age.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  and  select  schools  of  Otsego 
county,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  commenced  his  busi- 
ness life  in  the  counting-room  of  a  manufacturing  company 
at  Morris,  in  that  county.  He  remained  at  Morris  some 
eighteen  years,  gaining  a  reputation  for  persistent  industry 
and  correct  business  habits.  About  the  year  1852,  however, 
he  removed  to  Oneonta  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
on  his  own  account,  which  he  has  successfully  carried  on  up 
to  the  present  time,  being  now  one  of  the  most  substantial 
and  prominent  citizens  of  that  thriving  village.  He  is  Presi- 
dent of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Oneonta,  and  is  in  all 


176  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

respects  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  citizen.  The  fact 
that  he  has  served  almost  continuously  in  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  Otsego  county,  during  a  period  of  twelve 
years,  sufficiently  indicates  the  opinion  entertained  by  his 
neighbors  concerning  him. 

He  was  first  elected  to  the  Board  in  1861,  re-elected  in 
1864,  and  since  that  year  he  has  been  regularly  chosen  each 
spring  to  represent  the  town  of  Oneonta  in  the  county  legis- 
lature. 

Mr.  COPE  Avas  a  "Whig  while  that  party  existed,  and  voted 
for  HENRY  CLAY  in  1844.  When  the  Republican  party  was 
organized,  he  immediately  joined  its  ranks,  and  has  since 
been  an  unwavering  advocate  of  its  principles  and  candi- 
dates. He  is  an  efficient  worker  as  member  of  the  Com- 
mittees on  Villages  and  on  Banks. 


CHARLES  G.  CORNELL. 


Mr.  CORNELL  represents  the  Fourteenth  district  of  New 
York  city,  and  is  a  man  of  solid  worth  and  decided  ability. 
He  was  born  in  that  city  on  the  12th  of  February,  1827.  He 
is  a  Democrat  of  the  sturdy,  uncompromising  type,  as  were 
his  fathers  before  him,  and  is  identified  with  the  Tammany 
wing  of  the  party.  In  personal  appearance  lie  is  a  well-built 
man,  standing  about  five  feet  eleven,  with  a  well-balanced 
head  set  on  a  stout  neck.  His  frame  is  closely  knit  and  well 
covered  with  muscle,  so  that  physically  he  is  a  fine  specimen 
of  a  man.  His  face  denotes  truth  and  sincerity,  and  firm- 
ness, if  not  stubbornness  of  character;  yet  he  has  a  mild  blue 
eye  and  quite  pleasing  expression  of  features.  His  disposi- 
tion and  social  qualifications  are  such  as  to  gather  around 
him  firm  and  lasting  friends.  As  a  business  man  he  is  one 
of  those  who  have  the  foresight  to  look  well  ahead,  and  the 
courage  to  take  risks  where  others  would  hesitate.  He 


CHARLES  G.  CORNELL  177 

acquired  a  competency  in  his  business  before  he  entered  the 
field  of  politics,  and,  with  his  business  habits,  had  he 
ignored  the  honors  of  office,  he  might  have  been  far  more 
wealthy  than  he  is  at  present. 

Mr.  COHNELL  is  greatly  esteemed  and  respected  in  the 
district  which  he  represents.  His  political  course  has  been 
open  and  faithful  to  his  party  and  to  his  friends.  Even  with 
his  political  opponents  he  bears  the  reputation  of  being 
a  man  of  honor  and  truth.  He  served  several  years  in  the 
city  government,  and  in  one  of  its  branches  as  its  presiding 
officer.  During  the  years  1863, 1804, 1865  and  1866.  he  filled 
the  onerous  position  of  Street  Commissioner,  holding  the 
place  longer,  and  giving  better  satisfaction  in  the  discharge 
of  its  duties,  perhaps,  than  any  other  incumbent.  During 
the  last  year  in  which  he  performed  its  duties,  the  office  was 
made  a  sort  of  scape-goat  for  all  the  so-called  reform  inter- 
ests, and  he  was  so  harrassed  and  annoyed  that  he  retired 
from  the  position. 

Mr.  CORNELL  has  served  two  terms  in  the  State  Senate 
with  distinguished  ability,  representing  the  Fifth  district. 
He  was  first  elected  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  again  in  1865. 
His  career  in  the  upper  House  during  both  terms  was  highly 
honorable  to  himself  and  to  his  constituency,  and  he  was 
instrumental  in  initiating  and  perfecting  much  valuable 
legislation. 

Mr.  CORNELL  served  the  full  period  of  his  time  in  the 
Eighth  Regiment,  New  York  State  Militia,  and  was  among 
the  first  to  volunteer  his  services,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war.  He  served  with  his  regiment  with  great  credit,  and 
was  in  command  during  most  of  the  Bull  Run  battle. 
During  the  long  struggle  with  the  South,  he  was  an  unflinch- 
ing Union  man,  and  an  advocate  of  law  and  order.  When 
the  draft  riots  broke  out  in  the  city  of  New  York,  he  rendered 
efficient  service,  for  which  he  was  publicly  complimented  by 
Mayor  OPDYKE. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  last  fall,  by  a  plurality  of 
12 


178  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

491,  two  candidates  being  opposed  to  him.  He  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  New  York  delegation. 
While  not  particularly  ambitious  to  distinguish  himself  as  a 
debater,  he  knows  how  to  make  a  forcible  speech  when  the 
occasion  requires.  He  was  especially  prominent  in  his  oppo- 
sition to  the  New  York  charter  measure  of  this  session.  He 
is  courteous  and  affable  with  every  one,  while  his  legislative 
tact  and  sagacity  are  unquestioned.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Committees  on  Banks,  and  on  Public  Health. 


PATRICK  H.  COSTELLO. 


The  member  from  the  Third  district  of  Oneida  is  a  kindly, 
pleasant-faced  gentleman  of  perhaps  fifty  years  of  age.  A 
thorough  Irishman,  Mr.  COSTELLO  possesses  in  a  marked 
degree  the  best  traits  of  the  large-hearted  and  impulsive  race 
to  which  he  belongs.  He  was  born  in  the  old  country,  and 
emigrated  to  America  at  an  early  age.  About  the  year  1848 
he  established  himself,  though  on  a  small  scale,  in  a  tannery 
at  Camden,  Oneida  county.  In  this  business  he  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  nephew,  PATRICK  C.  COSTELLO,  who  was  a 
Member  of  Assembly  in  1859,  and  a  candidate  for  Presi- 
dential elector  in  1868.  The  COSTELLOS  were  excellent  and 
prudent  managers,  and  their  business  has  prospered  to  such 
a  degree,  that  their  Oneida  county  concern  is  now  one  of  the 
largest  leather  manufactories  in  this  State.  They  also  carry 
on  the  hide  and  leather  business  in  New  York  city  on  a 
large  scale. 

Mr.  COSTELLO  lias  mingled  very  little  in  politics,  preferring 
to  devote  his  best  energies  to  his  business;  but  he  has  never- 
theless always  been  warmly  devoted  1o  Republican  principles 
since  the  party  had  an  organization.  Last  fall,  much 
against  his  inclination,  he  was  induced  to  accept  the  Assem- 
bly nomination  in  opposition  to  GEOKGE  K.  CARKOLL,  a 


PETER  COUCHMAN.  179 

member  of  the  last  Assembly,  and  though  the  district  is 
usually  Democratic  by  a  majority  of  four  or  five  hundred, 
he  was  elected  by  seven  hundred  and  eighty-nine  majority. 
This  decided  mark  of  popular  confidence  is  evidently  not 
misplaced,  as  Mr.  COSTELLO  is  a  man  of  sound  judgment, 
great  activity  and  large  business  capacity,  united  with  liberal 
views  and  correct  principles.  He  is  not  a  man  of  great  ora- 
torical ability,  but,  what  is  better,  he  possesses  an  apprecia- 
tion of  the  practical  duties  of  legislation,  and  is  regarded  as 
a  valuable  member  of  the  House.  He  is  a  devout  Eoman 
Catholic,  and  in  all  his  dealings  with  others  he  is  scrupu- 
lously exact  and  truthful. 


PETER  COUCHMAN. 


Mr.  COUCHMAN  is  the  largest  member  in  the  House,  and 
though  his  towering  form  is  seldom  to  be  observed  among 
those  who  engage  in  the  frequent  oratorical  conflicts  on  the 
floor,  his  keen,  black  eye  intently  watches  the  progress  of 
legislation,  and  no  man  is,  as  a  rule,  better  posted  upon  the 
merits  of  every  question  than  the  member  from  Schoharie. 
When  occasion  requires, however,  he  is  able  to  state  his  views 
as  clearly,  logically  and  sensibly  as  many  of  the  gentlemen 
who  possess  much  greater  fluency  of  speech.  Quiet  and 
reserved  in  manner,  he  is  always  in  his  place,  fully  awake 
to  the  welfare  of  his  constituents  and  the  public. 

Mr.  COUCHMAN  was  born  in  the  town  of  Broome,  Scho- 
liarie  county.  July  28,  1833.  His  parents  were  both  natives 
of  this  State,  but  of  Dutch  descent;  his  father,  PHILIP 
COUCHMAN,  having  filled  the  offices  of  Supervisor  and  Jus- 
tice of  the  Peace  in  Schoharie  county  for  a  number  of  years. 
Until  about  the  age  of  thirty,  Mr.  COUCHMAN  continued  to 
reside  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  and  was  brought  up  to  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  receiving  meanwhile  a  good  common 


180  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

school  education.  Eleven  years  since,  and  shortly  after  his 
marriage  to  MARY  B.  BLOODGOOD,  an  estimable  lady,  he 
removed  to  Conesville,  where  he  still  resides.  For  several 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at  Windham 
Center,  with  D.  S.  KIXGSLEY,  but  he  sold  out  his  interest  in 
the  concern  about  a  year  ago,  and  now,  as  far  as  is  consistent 
with  public  duties,  he  devotes  himself  to  the  management 
of  a  productive  farm.  Mr.  COUCHMAX  has  been  honored  by 
his  fellow-citizens  in  an  unusual  degree,  having  been  elected 
Supervisor  eight  times  in  succession.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he 
was  elected  to  the  Assembly,  and  notwithstanding  the  popu- 
larity of  his  opponent,  LUMAX  REED,  he  received  a  majority 
of  1,132.  His  course  in  the  last  House,  in  which  he  served 
on  the  Committees  on  Internal  Affairs,  Grievances,  and 
Expenditures  of  the  House,  gave  such  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents that  he  was  returned  by  nearly  the  same  majority. 
Mr.  COUCHMAX  has  alwavs  been  a  straight  dved-in-the- 

*-  O  */ 

wool  Democrat,  and  it  is  probably  a  sufficient  indication  of 
his  personal  character  to  state  that  he  has  never  tasted  strong 
drink  in  his  life.  In  September  last  he  sustained  a  severe 
affliction  in  the  death  of  his  wife. 


WILLIAM  W.  CRANDALL. 


Dr.  CRAXDALL  was  born  in  Genesee,  Allegany  county, 
March  23,  1828,  and  is,  therefore,  in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous 
manhood.  He  is  the  son  of  EZEKIEL  CRAXDALL,  a  native 
of  Westerly.  R.  I.,  who  held  a  Major's  commission  in  the 
war  of  1812,  serving  with  honor  in  the  defenses  of  Rhode 
Island  and  Connecticut.  The  elder  CRAXDALL  died  in  1855, 
at  the  age  of  71  years.  He  was  a  farmer  during  the  greater 
portion  of  his  life,  and  settled  in  Allegany  county  about 
three  years  anterior  to  the  birth  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Youns;  CRAXDALL  was  raised  on  his  father's  farm,  but  he 


WILLIAM  W.  C RAND  ALL,  181 

developed  very  little  taste  for  agriculture.  In  accordance 
with  his  evident  predilection,  he  was  suffered  to  indulge  his 
inclination  for  study  to  a  very  liberal  extent.  After  passing 
with  credit  through  the  curriculum  of  study  at  Alfred 
Academy,  Mr.  CRANDALL,  about  the  year  1848,  secured  a 
teacher's  license  from  VICTOR  M.  llicE,  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction,  and  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  New 
York  and  Khode  Island  for  several  years,  occupying  hi» 
leisure  in  the  mean  time  in  diligent  study.  He  entered  upon 
the  scientific  course  at  Brown  University,  at  Providence,  K. 
I.,  spending  about  two  years  there,  but  before  he  graduated 
his  father  became  a  sufferer  from  cancer  in  the  face,  and 
duty  called  him  home  to  take  charge  of  the  farm  and  the 
care  of  his  parent's  infirmity.  Not  expecting  to  return  to 
study,  and  the  prospect  then  being  that  he  would  continue  at 
farming,  he  was  married  to  Miss  E.  EUPHEMLE  POTTER,  July 
5th,  1853.  The  elder  CRANDALL  survived  under  his  malady 
two  years,  and  arrangements  being  made  whereby  an  elder 
brother  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  the  invalid  parent,  he 
turned  to  the  study  of  medicine,  passing  through  the  course 
of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  University  of  New  York, 
and  graduating  in  the  year  1858,  with  the  usual  diploma, 
and  a  ''certificate  of  honor"  conferred  for  extra  qualifica- 
tions. His  technical  education  thus  completed,  Dr.  G RAN- 
DALL spent  a  year  or  two  in  England,  closely  studying  the 
schools  of  medicine  and  hospitals  of  London,  and  on  his 
return  settled  in  a  lucrative  medical  practice.  The  Doc- 
tor is  about  the  medium  height,  of  pleasing  manners  and 
appearance,  and  though  not  remarkable  as  a  fluent  debater, 
he  is  very  earnest  in  the  advocacy  of  any  measure  in  which 
his  feelings  or  his  sense  of  right  and  duty  are  enlisted.  In 
view  of  his  fifteen  years  successful  practice  as  a  physician,  he 
occupies  a  peculiarly  appropriate  position  in  the  present 
House,  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Health,  and 
in  that  capacity  has  been  actively  instrumental  in  initiating 
several  important  measures.  lie  was  a  member  last  year, 


182  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

having  been  chosen  by  the  handsome  majority  of  2,742  over 
ITTAI  J.  ELLIOT,  his  Democratic  competitor.  His  record  was 
so  unexceptionable  that  he  was  returned  last  fall  by  a 
majority  of  2,913  over  MINER,  the  "Liberal"  candidate. 
Mr.  CRANDALL  is  a  staunch  Republican,  as  was  also  his 
father,  after  the  division  of  the  Whig  party,  with  which  he 
had  always  previously  acted. 


CHARLES  CRARY. 


The  member  from  the  Twenty-first  district  of  New  York 
is  a  self-made  man,  having  won  an  enviable  position  in  the 
legal  profession  solely  by  the  aid  of  his  own  exertions  and 
his  inherent  natural  gifts.  Mr.  CRARY  was  born  in  Williams- 
ville,  Erie  county,  on  the  2d  of  May,  1823,  and  is,  therefore, 
still  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  the  son  of  Gen.  LEONARD 
P.  CRARY,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  died  near  Buffalo  when 
the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  but  twelve  years  of  age.  Young 
CRARY  remained  at  home,  attending  school  occasionally  until 
his  seventeentti  year,  when  he  entered  the  printing  office  of 
ABRAHAM  DINSMORE,  in  Buffalo,  and  spent  two  years  as  an 
apprentice.  His  ambitious  spirit,  however,  indulged  in 
aspirations  which  the  types  and  composing  stick  could  not 
satisfy.  His  elder  brother,  LEONARD  P.  CRARY,  had  already 
Avon  some  distinction  as  a  lawyer  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and 
thither  he  determined  to  proceed.  His  brother  gave  him  the 
advantages  of  his  office,  and  for  nearly  two  years  he  remained 
there,  paying  his  way  by  setting  type  in  the  newspaper  officer. 
and  devoting  his  leisure  moments  to  hard  study.  At  the  end 
of  that  period  he  returned  to  Buffalo,  and  continued  the 
same  course  of  life,  varied  by  one  or  two  terms  of  school 
teaching  in  the  town  of  Willink.  In  1845  he  moved  to 
Salem,  in  Washington  county,  where  he  entered  the  office  of 
JOHN  CRARY,  once  a  candidate  for  Lieutenant-Governor, 


CHARLES  CRARY.  183 

and  somewhat  of  a  celebrity.     Here  he   remained  fourteen 
years,  and   not   only   mastered   his   chosen   profession,  but 
established  a  good  reputation,  and  \von  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.     In  1859  he  removed  to  New 
York  city,  and  soon  became  established  in  a  lucrative  practice 
in  the  metropolis.     Two  years  afterward  he  published  a  work 
on  the  "  Law  and  Practice  in  Special  Proceedings,"  which  is 
so  exhaustive  in  its  treatment  of  the  subject,  and  so  well  fills 
a  manifest  legal   want,    that   it   has   since   passed   through 
several  editions,  and  no  law  library  is  now  deemed  complete 
without  it.     Mr.  CRARY,  since  his  sojourn  in  the  metropolis, 
has  identified  himself  prominently  with  the  best  interests  of 
the  city.     He  was  for  several  years  President  of  the  Eastside 
Association,  an  organization  having  for  its  object  the  carry- 
ing out  of  needful  public  improvements,  and  the  promotion 
of  municipal  reform.     He  is  also  an  efficient  member  of 
the  Committee  of  Seventy.     In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
Democrat,  belonging  to  the  reform  or  progressive  wing  of 
the  party,  and  bowing  to  no  dictation  of  rings  or  cliques. 
During  the  war  he  acted  with  the  Republicans   and   war 
Democrats,   espousing   with   enthusiasm   the   cause    of  the 
Union,  and  in  1868  he  voted  for  Gen.  GRANT.     In  the  last 
election,  however,  he  supported  HORACE  GREELEY  for  Presi- 
dent. 

Mr.  CRARY  possesses  undoubted  talent  as  a  public  speaker, 
and  without  being  impassioned  or  very  brilliant  in  style,  he 
is  plain,  logical  and  fluent,  influencing  his  hearers  more 
by  earnest,  direct,  convincing  statement,  than  by  ornately 
rounded  periods  or  exalted  flights  of  eloquence.  In  person, 
he  is  tall,  well  proportioned,  straight  as  an  arrow,  with  dark 
complexion,  and  large,  earnest,  dark  gray  eyes.  He  is  easy 
and  courteous  in  manner;  and  is,  in  fact,  in  every  way  well 
constituted  to  secure  a  large  measure  of  popularity. 


184  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JOSEPH  F.  CRAWFOKD. 


Although  not  really  a  native  of  this  country,  Mr.  CRAW- 
FORD may  be  justly  considered  such,  as  his  father,  an  eminent 
Methodist  divine,  was  born  and  reared  in  Saratoga  Springs. 
He,  however,  removed  to  Brantford,  Out.,  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  13th  day  of  July,  1831.  Pre- 
vious to  his  ninth  year,  Mr.  CRAWFORD  gained  some  rudiment- 
ary knowledge  in  a  public  school.  From  that  time  until  his 
twenty-first  year,  he  enjoyed  no  educational  advantages,  except 
such  as  he  availed  himself  of  in  moments  of  leisure.  He 
learned  a  trade,  however,  that  of  maker  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments, and  succeeded  in  saving  some  money,  which  he  deter- 
mined to  devote  entirely  to  gaining  an  education.  He 
entered  Cazenovia  Seminary  in  1852,  and  spent  four  years  in 
that  institution,  graduating  in  1856  very  successfully. 

Like  his  father,  he  is  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  persuasion, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Central  New  York  Conference,  in 
which  he  has  preached  with  considerable  success  for  sixteen 
years  past.  About  a  year  previous  to  his  graduation  he  mar- 
ried Miss  ELIZABETH  A.  PORTER,  of  Caxenovia.  He  resides 
at  Cazenovia  where,  in  addition  to  his  ministerial  duties,  he 
superintends  the  cultivation  of  a  farm  of  290  acres,  and 
attends  to  other  business  operations. 

In  1870,  he  was  active  in  promoting  the  establishment  of 
the  Syracuse  University,  an  institution  which  is  now  well 
known  throughout  the  State.  He  not  only  made  a  donation 
of  §25,000  from  his  own  means  to  the  project,  but  it  was 
largely  by  his  influence  and  exertions  that  a  plot  of  land 
Avas  secured  for  its  use,  and  he  has  in  other  ways  rendered 
material  aid  to  the  enterprise.  He  manages  an  establishment 
for  the  manufacture  of  mowing  machines  and  other  agricul- 
tural implements,  whose  profits  are  in  part  devoted  to  the 


JOSEPH  F.  CRA  WFORD.  185 

University,  and  he  also  acts  as  its  agent,  performing  much 
efficient  service  in  that  capacity. 

Mr.  CRAWFORD  is  a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and 
executive  ability,  and  brings  to  the  performance  of  the  mul- 
tifarious duties  devolving  upon  him  all  the  energy  and 
decision  characterizing  a  well-balanced  and  cultivated  mind. 
He  adds  to  great  mental  resources  untiring  industry,  as  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  is  able  to  attend  and  do  full 
justice  to  his  various  duties  as  minister,  business  agent, 
farmer,  manufacturer  arid  legislator,  all  of  which  necessi- 
tate a  voluminous  correspondence,  and  an  immense  amount 
of  work.  The  secret  of  his  success  lies  in  the  fact  that  one  of 
his  inflexible  rules  is  to  perform  each  day  all  the  duties  belong- 
ing to  that  day,  and  never  to  procrastinate.  It  is  worthy  of 
note,  also,  that  amid  all  his  engrossing  occupations,  lie  finds 
a  little  time  to  devote  to  literary  pleasures,  and  has  recently 
published,  tinder  his  own  supervision,  a  volume  of  poems  of 
merit,  under  the  title  of  "Echoes  from  Dreamland." 

He  is  earnest  in  and  out  of  the  House  in  the  advocacy  of 
all  measures  of  reform  and  retrenchment,  a  zealous  supporter 
of  the  temperance  measures  introduced  during  the  present 
session,  and  is  always  found  on  the  Christian  and  moral  side 
of  every  question. 

As  a  public  speaker,  he  possesses  rare  gifts.  His  voice  is  full 
and  well  modulated,  and  being  well  skilled  in  all  the  graces 
of  oratory,  his  earnest  and  deliberate  style  of  delivery  never 
fails  to  secure  the  attention  of  the  House.  Strictly  speak- 
ing, he  is  not  a  politician,  but  he  has  always  taken  an  active 
interest  in  the  political  movements  of  tbe  day,  and  his  influ- 
ence has  been  felt  in  the  Republican  party  since  its  organiza- 
tion, previous  to  which  he  voted  and  acted  with  the  Whig 
party.  Although  never  a  seeker  for  political  preferment,  his 
many  and  obvious  qualifications  for  legislative  position  were 
seen  and  recognized  by  the  Republicans  of  his  district,  and 
he  was  induced  to  be  their  candidate  in  the  canvass  of  last 
fall.  He  was  elected  by  a  very  decided  majority,  GKO.  BKKRY 


186  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

of  Oneida  being  his  Democratic  opponent.  He  has  been 
assigned  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  Committee  on  Charita- 
ble and  Religions  Societies,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Committee 
on  Internal  Affairs. 

Mr.  CKAWFOKU  is  six  feet  and  one  inch  high,  weighs  200 
pounds,  wears  a  full  beard,  and  is  as  good  a  figure  of  a  man 
as  one  often  meets. 


MICHAEL  A.  CUMMINGS. 


The  member  from  the  First  district  of  Ulster  county  is  a 
straight- forward  man.  of  business,  and  such  men  are  peculiarly 
valuable  in  legislative  halls.  His  parents  were  born  in 
Ireland,  and,  emigrating  to  this  country  shortly  after  their 
marriage,  settled  in  Ulster  county,  ili  the  fall  of  1837.  They 
were  industrious,  frugal  people,  and  young  CUMMLNGS,  who 
was  born  in  London,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1835,  inheri- 
ted these  traits,  to  which  in  a  large  degree  is  due  his  success 
in  life.  He  received  a  fair  common  school  education,  and 
began  life  as  an  engineer,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Two 
years  later  he  became  superintendent  of  the  lime  and 
cement  business  at  Wilbur.  He  acted  in  that  capacity  a 
number  of  years,  and  finally  became  a  partner  in  the  concern, 
which  yields  a  large  revenue.  He  is  also  engaged  in  the 
flour  and  feed  business,  and  in  all  his  business  ventures, 
has  been  quite  successful.  He  is  a  man  of  high  standing  in 
the  city  of  Kingston,  where  he  now  resides,  and  was  recently 
elected  city  Assessor,  by  a  unanimous  vote.  In  politics  he 
is  an  unflinching  and  life-long  Democrat.  Though  he  has 
never  sought  office  and  place,  he  has  generally  been  quite 
active  in  party  organizations.  He  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly last  fall  by  a  majority  of  304  over  CLIFFORD  CODDINGTOX, 
Republican,  in  a  district  which  gave  over  700  Republican 


JOHN  N.  DA  VIDSON.  187 

majority,  in  1871.  His  religious  faith  is  that  of  his  fathers, 
Roman  Catholic.  He  was  married  to  ANNA  MURRAY,  in  the 
year  1865. 


JOHN  N.   DAVIDSON. 


JOHN  NESMITH  DAVIDSON,  of  Wyoming  county,  was  born 
in  Wyndham,  Rockingham  county.  New  Hampshire,  April 
14,  1834.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  through  both 
parents,  whose  ancestors  settled  in  Londonderry,  in  the  same 
State,  and  he  inherits  many  of  the  solid  virtues  characteristic 
of  the  sturdy  north  of  Ireland  race.  In  person,  Mr.  DAVID- 
SON is  tall  and  slender,  and  though  a  young  man,  his 
demeanor  is  marked  by  a  quiet,  reserved  dignity,  tempered 
with  unassuming  modesty.  His  countenance  bears  the  un- 
mistakeable  impress  of  sterling  honesty  and  unquestion- 
ing candor.  An  examination  of  his  record  as  a  member  of 
Assembly  affords  full  confirmation  of  this  estimate.  No  bill 
ever  received  his  indorsement  or  vote  unless  he  felt  satisfied 
that  it  was  not  only  a  proper  measure,  but  one  demanded  by 
the  best  interests  of  the  people.  Strictly  upright  in  thought 
and  action,  he  is  the  inflexible  foe  of  every  thing  in  the  shape 
of  "  rings  "  or  legislative  jobs,  and  keenly  alive  to  the  inter- 
ests of  his  constitutents.  Mr.  DAVIDSON  has  received  a  good 
education,  graduating  at  Alfred  Academy  in  the  year  1854, 
after  passing  with  high  honor  through  the  full  academic 
course.  Since  then  he  has  pursued  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing and  occasionally  teaching  school.  Mr.  D.  is  unmarried, 
which  may  be  partially  accounted  for  from  the  fact  that  li is 
mother  is  still  living,  and  claims  his  regard  in  an  unusual 
degree.  Mr.  DAVIDSON'S  religious  faith  is  not  strictly 
bounded  by  creeds  and  dogmas,  though  lie  is  a  firm  believer  in 
the  Christian  faith.  He  is  a  man  of  acts,  rather  than  of  pro- 
fessions, and  is  inclined  to  treat  all  men  as  brethren  who  act 


188  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

in  a  fraternal  spirit.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican, 
being  firmly  imbued  with  the  distinctive  principles  of  that 
party.  Though  he  never  sought  public  position,  he  was 
induced,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  as  a 
candidate  for  the  Assembly.  He  was  elected  by  a  handsome 
majority,  and  was  re-elected  last  fall  by  a  greatly  increased 
vote. 


JAMES  A.   PEERING. 


Mr.  DEERING  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  youngest 
member  of  the  present  House,  being  as  yet  under  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  New  York  city  in  July,  1851. 
As  is  the  case  with  several  of  the  active  members  of  the 
present  Legislature,  Mr.  DEERING'S  parents  came  from  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  the  sturdy  independence  and  hearty 
generosity  characterizing  the  people  of  that  country  are 
fully  expressed  in  the  frank  countenance  of  this  young 
New  Yorker.  Mr.  DEERING  lias  enjoyed  ample  educational 
advantages,  and  before  he  had  reached  his  nineteenth  vear 

O         '  *> 

he  had  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  M.,  from  Manhattan 
College,  and  also  from  Columbia  College  Law  School,  with 
the  degree  of  LL.  B.  He  immediately  commenced  the  practice 
of  law,  and  is  rapidly  winning  a  reputation  in  that  profession. 
For  three  years  past  he  has  been  Secretary  of  the  West-Side 
Property  Owners'  Association,  of  the  Twelfth  Ward.  In  the 
recent  canvass  Mr. DEERIXG  was  known  as  a  "straight-out" 
Democrat,  and  was  the  only  individual  of  that  stripe  elected 
in  New  York  last  fall.  The  fact  that  he  was  chosen  to  the 
Assembly  by  a  majority  of  400,  in  what  lias  heretofore  been 
a  strong  Tammany  district  —  TIIOMA.S  C.  FIELDS  having 
carried  it  by  large  majorities  the  two  previous  years  — 
is  a  striking  illustration  of  the  change  that  lias  been 
wrought  in  New  York  politics,  and  constitutes  a  splendid 


AUGUSTUS  DENNISTON.  189 

personal  compliment  to  Mr.  DEEIUNG.  Mr.  D.  has,  on 
several  occasions  during  the  present  session,  shown  marked 
ability  as  a  public  speaker  and  an  acute  reasoner,  and  lie  does 
not  hesitate,  when  the  occasion  arises,  to  cross  lances  with 
any  of  the  old  debaters  of  the  House.  Being  hampered  by 
no  cliques  or  rings  in  his  political  connection,  he  is  also  in 
a  position  to  be  perfectly  untrammeled  in  the  expression  of 
his  opinions  on  the  floor.  His  tendencies  have  been  toward 
the  Apollo  Hall  wing  of  the  Democracy,  but  we  believe  he 
came  to  the  Legislature  entirely  unpledged  to  any  specified 
course.  Mr.  DEERING  is  a  man  of  robust  physique  and  tine 
presence,  which  causes  him  to  appear  much  older  than  he 
really  is.  He  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church,  and  is  still  a  bachelor. 


AUGUSTUS  DENNISTON. 


Though  quite  a  young  man,  Mr.  DENNISTON  has  passed 
through  quite  an  eventful  career,  and  has  already  shown  that 
he  possesses  the  characteristics  of  the  Scotch-Irish  ancestry 
from  which  he  sprung.  He  was  born  on  the  25th  of  May, 
1842,  at  Blooming  Grove,  Orange  county,  where  he  still 
resides.  His  father  was  the  late  Hon.  ROBERT  DENNISTON, 
who,  in  old  Barnburner  times,  was  distinguished  for  his 
integrity,  force  of  character  and  ability  during  several  years 
of  service  in  both  Houses  of  the  Legislature,  and  one  term  us 
Comptroller  of  the  State.  Young  DENNISTON  was  educated 
by  private  tutors  at  home,  and  enjoys,  therefore,  a  very 
thorough  acquaintance  with  all  the  practical  branches  of 
knowledge.  In  1800,  when  his  father  was  elected  Comptrol- 
ler, he  accompanied  him  to  Albany  as  his  confidential  secre- 
tary, and  diligently  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  thus 
afforded  of  becoming  familiar  with  the  practical  details  of 


190  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

legislation.  At  the  expiration  of  the  two  years  term  of  ser- 
vice, Mr.  DENNISTON  was  seized  with  the  war  fever,  then 
widely  prevalent  among  young  men,  and  receiving  the  ap- 
pointment of  Quartermaster  of  the  124th  Regiment,  New 
York  volunteers,  he  went  to  the  front  with  the  gallant  Col. 
ELLIS.  He  made  an  excellent  Quartermaster,  winning  the 
good  opinion  of  the  entire  regiment,  but  the  severity  of  camp 
life  was  too  much  for  him,  and  he  was  compelled  to  resign 
after  about  six  months  service,  having  contracted  a  disease 
by  which  he  was  prostrated  nearly  a  twelve-month  after  his 
return.  Mr.  DENNISTON"  belongs  to  a  patriotic  family.  Four 
brothers  and  a  brother-in-law  were  in  the  army  and  navy 
during  the  great  war.  Since  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1867, 
Mr.  DENNISTOJST  has  been  occupied  in  administering  and 
managing  the  large  estate  left  to  his  care,  as  well  as  being 
trustee  of  several  other  estates,  and  as  it  includes  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  Orange  county,  it  furnishes  him  ample  em- 
ployment. 

Almost  from  boyhood  Mr.  DENNISTON  has  been  active  in 
political  life,  it  being  his  habit  always  to  attend  the  primary 
conventions,  and  he  has  frequently  been  sent  as  a  delegate  to 
various  deliberative  bodies.  He  was  never  elected  to  office 
until  last  fall,  however,  and  is  the  first  Assemblyman  elected 
in  many  years  from  the  country  portion  of  his  district,  the 
member  being  generally  taken  from  the  city  of  Newburgh. 
His  personal  popularity  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  nearly  nine  hundred  over  a  very  popular 
Liberal  Republican  opponent,  ALEXANDER  LESLIE,  of  New- 
burgh.  Mr.  DENXI.STON"  is  a  gentleman  of  pleasant  manners 
and  incorruptible  character,  possessing  in  a  large  degree 
those  qualities  which  are  essential  to  the  able  legislator.  He 
is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and,  in 
all  the  public  and  private  relations  of  life,  is  without  re- 
proach. He  has  never  married,  and,  with  the  exceptions 
already  noted,  has  always  lived  on  the  farm  occupied  by  hu 
father  and  grandfather. 


SEYMOUR  DEXTER.  191 


SEYMOUR  DEXTER. 


Mr.  DEXTER  was  born  in  Independence,  Allegany  county, 
March  20, 1841.  He  is  the  son  of  DANIEL  DEXTER,  a  native 
of  Herkimer  county,  who  is  still  living  at  Independence,  at 
the  age  of  67.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  ANGELINA 
BRIGGS.  She  is  also  living,  being  ten  years  younger  than  her 
husband.  Mr.  DEXTER'S  early  youth  was  spent  upon  his 
father's  farm.  On  reaching  a  suitable  age,  he  entered  Alfred 
University,  from  whence  he  graduated  in  July,  1864,  and 
afterward  studied  law  in  the  office  of  J.  L.  WOODS,  at  Elmira. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May,  1866,  and  is  now  a  mem- 
ber of  the  law  firm  of  DEXTER  &  VAN  DUZER,  at  Elmira. 
Though  quite  a  young  man,  Mr.  DEXTER  has  gained  a  wide 
reputation  as  an  able  advocate,  and  his  success  thus  far  indi- 
cates a  promising  future.  The  rebellion  broke  out  while  he 
was  pursuing  his  studies  at  Alfred  University,  but  he 
promptly  responded  to  the  call  for  men,  enlisting  as  a  private 
in  the  ^Ikl  Kegiment,  'New  York  Volunteers,  in  April,  1861. 
The  regiment  shared  in  the  good  and  ill-fortune  which  fell 
to  the  lot  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  during  the  first  year 
of  the  war,  Mr.  DEXTER  remaining  with  it.  and  participating 
in  innumerable  battles  and  skirmishes,  until  the  expiration 
of  his  two  years  term  of  service.  He  was  then  honorably 
discharged  with  a  non-commissioned  grade. 

Though  Mr.  DEXTER  has  always  been  a  Republican,  lie 
has  never  been  ambitious  for  office.  Last  year  he  held  the 
position  of  City  Attorney  in  Elmira,  and  discharged  its 
duties  with  marked  credit.  For  several  years,  however,  he 
lias  been  prominent  in  Elmira  politics,  and  has  become  quite 
popular,  II  is  canvass  last  fall  was  in  some  respects  remark- 
able. For  six  years  past,  Cheniung  county  has  sent  Demo- 
cratic representatives  to  Albany,  usually  by  decided  majori- 
ties. Last  fall  Mr.  DEXTER  was  nominated  by  acclamation, 


192  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

and  was  elected,  after  a  most  spirited  contest,  by  a  majority 
of  350,  a  gain  of  750  votes  over  the  previous  year,  when 
DAVID  B.  HILL,  a  Democrat,  was  elected.  Mr.  DEXTER'S 
opponent  was  JOHN  A.  REYNOLDS,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Elmira.  Mr.  DEXTER  was  married  in  June,  1868,  to 
ELLA  E.  WEAVER,  of  Leonardsville,  Madison  county,  a  very 
accomplished  lady,  and,  by  the  way,  a  graduate  of  the  ladies' 
collegiate  course  at  Alfred  University.  He  is  a  member  of 
Rev.  T.  K.  BEECHER?S  Congregational  Church  at  Elmira, 
and  is  a  man  greatly  esteemed  in  the  social  circles  of  that 
city,  and  respected  in  all  classes  of  society.  In  person,  he  is 
about  the  medium  height.  He  possesses  no  marked  physi- 
ognomical characteristics,  but  is  simply  a  man  of  the  ordi- 
nary American  type,  genial,  courteous,  intelligent,  and  a 
favorite  with  those  who  are  so  fortunate  as  to  possess  his 
friendship.  As  a  member  of  Assembly,  he  has  shown  great 
aptitude  for  legislative  duties,  and  is  a  forcible  and  eloquent 
speaker.  As  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  the  Judiciary 
and  State  Prisons,  he  is  active  and  efficient. 


JAMES  F.  DONAHUE. 


JAMES  FRANCIS  DONAHUE  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  w'here 
he  still  resides,  December  25,  1843.  He  is  a  son  of  TIMOTHY 
and  MARY  DONAHUE,  who  are  both  natives  of  Corry,  Ire- 
land, and  who  are  still  living  in  Brooklyn  at  an  advanced 
age.  In  fact,  Mr.  DONAHUE  comes  of  a  long-lived  stock,  his 
grandparents  having  all  of  them  lived  to  a  great  age. 
When  very  young,  Mr.  DONAHUE  enjoyed  some  common 
school  advantages,  but  he  was  able  to  acquire  very  little  aside 
from  the  merest  rudiments,  and  he  may  be  said  to  be  really 
self-educated.  Since  boyhood  he  has  followed  various  occu- 
pations. He  has  been  at  different  times  a  hatter,  a  candle- 
maker,  and  a  ship-caulker,  and  at  present  he  is  very  success- 


JAMES  F.  DONAHUE.  193 

fully  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Soon  after  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  rebellion  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Four- 
teenth (Brooklyn)  Regiment,  which  was  attached  to  the  first 
brigade,  first  corps,  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was  in  all  the 
battles  in  which  that  noted  regiment  participated,  until  nearly 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  never  asked  nor  sought  promotion, 
but  was  content  to  do  his  duty  as  a  soldier,  regardless  of 
nonors  or  emoluments.  In  18G8  he  was  married  to  an  estima- 
ble lady  of  Brooklyn.  During  several  years  past  Mr.  DOXA- 
HUE  has  been  an  active  and  influential  Democratic  politi- 
cian in  his  district,  being  frequently  called  upon  to  do  duty 
as  delegate  to  the  Assembly,  Senatorial  and  County  conven- 
tions of  his  party.  The  good  sense  and  thoroughness  with 
which  he  performed  his  duties,  together  with  his  known  per- 
sonal popularity,  moved  his  friends  to  nominate  him  for  the 
Assembly  last  fall.  He  accepted  the  nomination  and  was 
elected,  after  a  spirited  contest,  by  a  majority  of  283  over 
PATKICK  J.  COLLINS,  a  Democratic  opponent,  there  being 
no  Republican  in  the  field.  He  is  a  member  of  three  Com- 
mittees, Public  Education,  Civil  Divisions,  and  Public 
Lands,  and  is  known  as  a  quiet,  attentive  and  industrious 
legislator.  Mr.  DOXAHUE  is  a  little  below  the  medium 
height,  but  he  is  solidly  built  and  well-knit  together.  His 
face,  which  is  round  and  full,  is  closely  shaven,  and,  without 
going  into  details,  we  may  observe  that  his  appearance  is 
prepossessing  and  indicative  of  much  ability,  as  well  as 
capacity  to  appreciate  the  social  amenities  of  life. 

13 


194  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


DANIEL  D.  ELTING. 


Mr.  ELTING  was  born  in  the  town  of  Rosendale,  Ulster 
county,  Jan.  29,  1839.  He  is  descended  from  French  Hugue- 
not stock,  his  father's  name  being  DAXIEL  ELTIXG,  a  native 
of  New  Paltz,  in  the  same  country.  His  father  and  mother 
are  still  living,  the  latter  now  fifty-five  years  of  age,  being  of 
Holland  descent  and  a  native  of  Eochester,  Ulster  county.  Her 
maiden  name  was  RACHEL  SCHOOXMAKER.  Young  ELTIXG 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  Ellenville  High 
School,  and  after  leaving  school  entered  mercantile  life  as  a 
clerk,  and  followed  that  occupation  several  years.  For  a 
long  period,  and  until  within  a  year  or  two,  he  was  foreman 
of  repairs  on  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  canal.  Besides  his 
present  position,  he  has  never  held  any  public  office  except 
that  of  Town  Collector. 

In  the  spring  of  1861,  being  at  that  time  engaged  as  clerk, 
Mr.  ELTIXG  enlisted  in  Company  E,  Twentieth  Regiment, 
New  York  State  Militia,  for  three  months.  He  was  appointed 
to  the  grade  of  Sergeant,  and  served  with  the  regiment  until 
its  return.  He  was  then  commissioned  1st  Lieutenant  in 
Co.  G,  56th  New  York  Volunteers,  and  served  through  most 
of  the  hardest  fighting  of  the  Avar.  He  was  in  the  memora- 
ble Peninsula  campaign,  sharing  in  the  honors  won  by  the 
regiment;  his  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  being  such 
that  he  was  promptly  promoted,  on  the  field,  to  a  Captaincy 
in  the  same  command.  Subsequently  he  participated  with 
marked  credit  in  the  campaigns  in  Xortli  and  South  Caro- 
lina, and  was  present  at  the  protracted  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter.  When  the  regiment  re-enlisted  in  the  fall  of  1864, 
Captain  ELTIXG  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to 
civil  life. 

Mr.  ELTIXG  is  a  straight-forward  Republican,  active  in  the 
performance  of  his  legislative  duties,  a  pleasant,  courteous, 


HENRY  L.  FISH.  195 

gentleman,  and  in  all  respects  an  honor  to  his  district.  He 
was  married  Dec.  15,  18G4,  to  Miss  MAKY  BEODHEAD.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Roads  and  Bridges,  Public 
Printing,  and  Militia. 


HENRY  L.  FISH. 


Mr.  FISH  is  a  fit  representative  of  the  flourishing  commer- 
cial city  of  Rochester,  which  embraces  by  far  the  largest 
assembly  constituency  in  the  State,  there  being  fully  60,000 
inhabitants  within  its  boundaries.  Having  been  engaged  in 

o  o    o 

the  forwarding  and  commission  business  in  that  city  for 
many  years,  he  is  fully  conversant  with  all  its  requirements, 
and  knows  precisely  what  legislation  is  needed,  not  only  for 
the  healthy  development  of  its  commercial  interests,  but  for 
securing  to  its  citizens  good  municipal  government,  and  con- 
sequent progressive  social  tendencies.  Mr.  FISH  has  always 
been  known  as  a  Democrat  of  advanced  views  and  liberal 
ideas.  During  the  rebellion  years,  he  was  classified  as  a  war 
Democrat,  and  such  lie  was,  in  the  best  sense  of  the  phrase, 
inasmuch  as  he  favored  no  half-way  measures  in  that  contest. 
Since  the  war  closed  he  has  retained  his  party  association, 
but  invariably  held  himself  at  liberty  to  vote  the  best  men 
into  office,  Avithont  much  regard  to  political  affiliation. 
Being  brought  by  his  extensive  business  relations  into  close 
intimacy  Avith  " canal  men"  and  canal  interests,  he  is  fully 
conversant  Avith  the  needs  and  capabilities  of  ISTeAV  York's 
great  Avater  highway,  holding  decided  views  in  regard  to  the 
policy  Avhich  should  guide  its  management.  Speaker 
CORNELL  paid  a  handsome  compliment  to  his  sagacity  and 
experience  in  this  respect,  when  he  gave  him  the  second 
place  upon  the  Canal  Committee,  and  in  reference  to  matters 
which  came  before  that  committee,  Mr.  FISH'S  counsel  and 
co-operation  are  valued  by  every  member  of  the  House. 


196  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  FISH'S  parents,  who  are  both  dead,  were  natives  of 
Massachusetts,  and  he  was  born  in  Amherst,  Mass.,  on  the 
25th  of  October,  1815.  Three  years  later  his  fathers  family 
moved  to  this  State,  settling  in  Wayne  county,  where  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming  for  many  years.  Young 
FISH  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  receiving,  meanwhile, 
a  good  common  school  education.  In  the  year  1840,  he 
located  in  Rochester,  and  engaged  in  the  business  which  he 
still  carries  on  successfully.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  FISH  &  HEATH  (formerly  FISH,  ELLISOX  &  Co.),  Forward- 
ers and  Commission  Merchants,  and  was  one  of  the  founders, 
and  still  a  part  owner,  of  the  Rochester  Transportation  Com- 
pany, one  of  the  heaviest  freighting  lines  in  western  Xew 
York.  During  several  years,  he  was  also  President,  Treas- 
urer and  part  oAvner  of  the  Rochester  Towing  Company, 
another  very  extensive  concern.  It  will  therefore  be  seen 
that  Mr.  FISH  is  one  of  the  "  solid  men  "  of  Rochester,  and 
it  may  also  well  be  imagined  that  he  has  played  no  insignifi- 
cant part  in  the  political  and  municipal  history  of  that  city. 

Never  a  strong  partisan,  in  any  sense,  he  has  always 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  people,  and  labored  to  secure  the 
greatest  good  to  the  greatest  number.  He  is,  therefore,  very 
popular  among  all  classes.  For  two  decades  he  has  resided 
in  the  Eighth  ward  of  Rochester,  and  during  that  period  he 
has  been  almost  constantly  in  the  service  of  the  city  in  some 
capacity.  As  he  always  acted  in  his  political  connection 
with  the  Democratic  party,  he  has  frequently  been  a  member 
of  the  city  and  county  committees,  in  which  he  has  ren- 
dered effective  campaign  service.  Popular  appreciation  of 
his  merits  has,  however,  been  generally  based  on  other  than 
party  considerations. 

His  public  career  may  be  said  to  date  from  1850.  when  he 
was  elected  to  serve  two  years  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 
During  the  years  1852,  1853  and  1855,  he  filled  the  office  of 
School  Commissioner  with  credit  to  himself  and  advantage 
to  the  educational  interests  of  the  citv.  In  1854  he  was  a 


HEXRY  L.  FISH.  197 

member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors.  In  185G  he  was  again 
elected  Alderman,  and  was  successively  elected  for  two  year 
terms  until  he  had  served  nine  years,  being  chosen  in  one 
year  to  fill  a  vacancy.  While  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  he 
was  a  leading  member  of  all  the  important  committees,  and 
was  personally  identified  with  every  measure  designed  to 
benefit  the  city.  In  18'>7  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party 
for  the  Mayoralty,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  100. 
His  course  in  this  exalted  position  was  so  satisfactory  that 
he  was  re-elected  in  1868,  his  opponent  boing  the  late  Hon. 
WM.  A.  REYNOLDS,  late  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Commission.  He  was  renominated  in  1869,  but  declined 
to  run.  Since  that  year  he  has  devoted  himself  assiduously 
to  commercial  life.  Last  fall,  however,  he  was  nominated 
for  the  Assembly  by  acclamation,  at  a  mass  convention  of 
citizens  called  regardless  of  party  affiliations,  it  being  deemed 
desirable,  on  account  of  important  local  issues,  to  defeat  GEO. 
D.  LORD,  the  regular  Democratic  candidate,  who  had  repre- 
sented the  city  two  years.  Although  it  promised  to  interfere 
seriously  with  his  other  pursuits,  Mr.  FISH  reluctantly 
accepted  the  nomination,  and  was  elected,  by  a  majority  of 
173,  his  opponent  having  received  a  majority  of  1,186  the 
year  previous.  The  result  was  hailed  with  gratification  by 
good  men  of  all  parties. 

Mr.  FISH'S  earnestness  in  the  cause  of  reform  is  shown  by 
the  fact  that,  on  the  first  business  day  of  the  session,  he  in- 
troduced three  bills  designed  to  abolish  the  system  of  com- 
missions given  to  the  city  by  the  Legislature  of  1872.  That 
he  has  not  succeeded  in  securing  the  repeal  of  the  acts  creat- 
ing those  commissions  is  due  to  no  lack  of  energy  and  persist- 
ency on  his  part,  as  lie  has  labored  in  season  and  out  of 
season  to  effect  what  he  deemed  the  principal  object  of  his 
election  to  the  Assembly. 

Being  elected  by  the  people  on  other  than  party  issues,  Mr. 
FISH  occupies  a  particularly  independent  position  in  the 
House.  He  recognizes  two  facts,  however:  First.  That  here- 


198  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

ceived  the  solid  support  of  the  Eepublicans  in  the  recent  can- 
vass ;  and,  second,  that  true  reform  in  State  and  municipal 
administration  can  best  be  subserved  by  supporting  the  Ke- 
pitblican  policy.  Hence,  he  has  uniformly  acted  with  the 
majority  on  party  questions. 

Mr.  FISH  is  a  fervent  and  consistent  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  has  been  married  a  number  of  years, 
and  has  one  son.  His  personal  appearance  indicates  marked 
individuality,  in  which  there  is  much  of  the  milk  of  human 
kindness,  strong  moral  and  religious  convictions,  and  correct 
ideas  of  the  principles  which  should  govern  all  the  relations 
of  life.  His  countenance,  framed  in  a  flowing  beard,  in 
which  the  gray  of  age  predominates,  is  extremely  kindly  in 
its  expression,  and  faithfully  mirrors  some  of  the  best  traits 
of  the  human  heart.  It  is  a  countenance,  in  short,  in  which 
one  feels  implicit  confidence.  Mr.  FISH  does  not  appear  to 
be  ambitious  to  excel  as  a  debater,  or  to  gain  political  promi- 
nence. His  sole  aim  is  apparently  to  perform  his  duty  as  a 
legislator  acceptably,  and  in  this,  we  imagine,  he  will  succeed 
to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 


MORRIS  B.  FLINN. 


The  member  from  Yates  is  Hon.  MORRIS  B.  FLIXX  of 
Rushville,  who  was  born  in  Springport,  Cayuga  county,  on 
the  27th  of  April,  1811.  He  therefore  ranks  among  the 
older  members  of  the  Assembly.  His  father  was  PETER 
FLIXX,  who  was  born  in  this  State  and  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  upon  the  Cayuga  reservation.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  RICHARDSOX,  came  from  thrifty  Pennsyl- 
vania stock,  and  the  two  were  fair  types  of  the  hardy  pioneers 
of  Western  New  York.  Young  FLIXX  was  brought  up  on 
the  farm,  but  his  parents  permitted  him  to  enjoy  every 
educational  opportunity  which  the  country  afforded  in  those 


MORRIS  B.  FLIKN.  199 

days.  He  attended  common  school  with  considerable  regu- 
larity, and  he  was  also  a  pupil  in  a  village  academy  for  several 
terms.  He  thus  secured  as  much  book-learning,  perhaps,  as 
a  young  man  in  his  position  required.  During  his  20th,  21st 
and  22d  years  he  taught  school,  after  which  he  followed  farm- 
ing as  a  means  of  livelihood,  marrying,  in  1836,  Miss  ELIZA 
THOMPSON.  On  the  death  of  his  wife,  in  1851,  he  relin- 
quished the  farm  and  soon  after  established  himself  in  the 
hardware  business  at  Eushville,  and  a  few  years  afterward 
Avas  again  married,  his  second  wife  being  Miss  HARRIET  A. 
WHITNEY.  He  has  continued  in  the  hardware  business  until 
the  present  time,  and  has  been  quite  successful. 

Mr.  FLINN'S  political  career  has  been  no  more  notable 
than  that  of  hundreds  of  other  plain  and  unassuming, 
yet  substantial  and  useful  citizens  of  the  State.  During 
his  earlier  years  of  manhood  he  was  a  Democrat,  and 
remained  such  until  the  Eepublican  party  was  organized. 
He  then  changed  his  party  connection,  and  has  since  been 
uniformly  identified  with  the  Kepublican  organization. 

Although  he  has  for  a  number  of  years  exerted  consider- 
able influence  politically,  he  has  never  held  any  office,  and  it 
was  only  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  neighbors  and 
friends  that  he  consented  last  fall  to  be  a  candidate  for  the 
Assembly.  The  fact  that  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of 
680  in  a  county  which  is  usually  closely  contested,  and 
which,  in  1871,  gave  its  Republican  member  but  59  majority, 
conclusively  indicates  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  at 
home. 

Mr.  FLINN  is  not  one  of  the  talkers  of  the  House,  but 
he  possesses  gifts  which  more  than  make  up  for  a  lack  of 
words,  and  render  him  an  exceedingly  efficient  legislator, 
while  his  many  excellent  traits  of  character  have  caused 
him  to  be  highly  esteemed  at  the  capital. 


200  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


ROBERT  B.   FOOTE. 


Mr.  FOOTE  represents  the  Fifth  district  of  Erie  county, 
which  has  heretofore  been  Democratic.  He  is  a  man  of  con- 
siderable ability  and  force  of  character,  having,  by  dint  of 
well-directed  energy,  worked  himself  up  from  poverty  to  a 
position  of  comparative  affluence. 

Born  in  England,  on  the  13th  of  February,  1844,  he  was 
brought  to  this  country  by  his  parents  when  only  three 
years  old.  His  youth  was  spent  upon  the  farm,  with  inter- 
vals of  hard  study  in  the  common  school  and  academy. 
During  the  winters  of  1861  and  1862,  and  also  that  of  1865,  he 
taught  school.  In  1862  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  116th 
Eegiment  of  Xew  York  Volunteers,  and  accompanied  the  Regi- 
ment in  the  eventful  campaign  which  culminated  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Port  Hudson.  In  the  sanguinary  struggle  for  the  pos- 
session of  that  stronghold,  he  lost  the  forefinger  of  his  right 
hand  and  the  index  and  middle  fingers  of  his  left  hand. 
The  disability  thus  occasioned  resulted  in  his  honorable  dis- 
charge a  couple  of  months  later,  he  having  in  the  mean  time 
been  promoted  to  a  non-commissioned  grade. 

In  1864  he  located  in  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
became  interested  in  certain  oil  property  which  proved  very 
valuable.  He  operated  several  oil  wells  and  kept  a  hard- 
ware store  until  1867.  when  he  left  the  oil  regions,  having 
secured  a  moderate  fortune.  He  then  purchased  a  farm  in 
the  town  of  Hamburgh,  Erie  county,  and  has  since  been 
quietly  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  in  which  he  has 
been  fairly  successful.  He  was  married  in  1865  to  MARY 
G.  KIXGSCOTT,  of  Buffalo. 

Always  a  strong  Republican,  Mr.  FOOTE  has  generally  been 
quite  active  in  the  local  councils  of  his  party,  but  he  has 
never  before  held  office.  He  ran  for  Supervisor  of  his  town 
two  years  ago,  but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority,  a?  the 


WILLIAM  L.  FORD.  201 

town  has  generally  been  Democratic.     His  majority  over  Mr. 
WILEY,  in  the  Assembly  canvass  last  fall,  was  240. 

Mr.  FOOTE  is  a  man  of  quiet  manner  and  modest  bearing ; 
though  he  has  little  to  say  in  debate,  he  watches  the  legisla- 
tive proceedings  with  close  interest,  and  is  seldom  absent 
from  his  seat. 


WILLIAM  L.  FORD. 


Mr.  FORD,  the  member  from  Broome,  is  a  successful  mer- 
chant in  the  village  of  Deposit,  where  he  has  carried  on  busi- 
ness for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  He  is  not  a  stranger  to 
legislative  duties,  having  been  a  member  of  the  House  in 
1852,  and  agian  last  year,  when  he  was  chosen  to  succeed 
the  late  Hon.  WM.  M.  ELY.  He  has  made  himself  quite 
popular  in  the  House,  and  as  his  business  habits  are  brought 
to  bear  upon  all  the  details  of  legislation  with  which  he  is 
connected,  he  is  a  very  useful  member,  either  in  the  com- 
mittee room  or  on  the  floor. 

He  was  born  at  Middleville,  Herkimer  county,  March  12, 
1820,  his  father  being  DANIEL  FORD,  of  Connecticut,  who 
died  about  seven  years  ago.  Mr.  FORD  received  a  thorough 
common  school  education.  Previous  to  going  into  business 
on  his  own  account,  he  married  the  daughter  of  Major 
AUGUSTUS  MORGAN,  of  Binghamton.  She  died,  however,  in 
1850.  three  years  later,  and,  in  1859,  he  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  AUSTIX  WARD,  of  Floyd.  Oneida  county. 

Mr.  FORD  was  a  member  of  the  old  Whig  organization 
before  its  dissolution,  and  afterward  joined  the  Republican 
party,  with  which  lie  has  since  acted.  Besides  his  legislative 
service.,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Broome  County  Board  of 
Supervisors  in  1807,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican 
State  Conventions  of  1871  and  1872.  His  popularity  at 
home  is  shown  bv  the  fact  that  he  carried  his  countv  in  the 


202  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

recent  canvass  by  the  large  majority  of  1,280,  his  opponent 
being  NEIL  T.  CHILDS,  a  Liberal  Kepublican.  In  the  session 
of  1852,  he  served  on  the  Committee  on  Trade  and  Manu- 
factures, and  in  that  of  1872  on  State  Prisons  and  on  Con- 
gressional Apportionment.  In  the  present  session,  he  is 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Roads  and  Bridges,  and 
an  efficient  member  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Printing. 


DANIEL  G.  FOET. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  town  of  Clifton 
Park,  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  on  the  27th  of  January, 
1827.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  while  Mr.  FOET  was  still 
a  child,  removed  to  Fabius,  Onondaga  county.  In  the  com- 
mon schools  and  academies  of  that  section  Mr.  FORT  was 
educated.  Like  many  of  our  public  men,  in  early  manhood 
he  resorted  to  teaching,  alternating  summer  and  winter 
between  the  duties  of  the  school-room  and  the  labors  of  the 
farm. 

In  1855,  Mr.  FORT  went  to  the  city  of  Syracuse  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  as  a  salesman  and  book- 
keeper. A  few  years  subsequently  he  accepted  an  invitation 
from  E.  B.  JUDSOIST,  Esq.,  the  well-known  banker  of  Syra- 
cuse, to  accompany  him  to  Oswego,  where  he  had  become 
interested  in  the  Lake  Ontario  Bank.  This  invitation  was 
accepted,  and  in  1863  Mr.  FORT  succeeded  to  the  cashiership 
of  that  institution,  a  position  which  he  has  ably  filled  to  the 
present  time.  Mr.  JUDSON  subsequently  returned  to  Syra- 
cuse, but  his  early  interest  in  our  subject,  who  still  regards 
him  as  one  of  his  most  cherished  friends  and  advisers,  has 
never  ceased. 

In  1862,  Mr.  FORT,  very  unexpectedly  to  himself,  was 
made  the  Republican  candidate  for  Mayor  of  the  city  of 


DANIEL  €f.  FORT.  203 

Oswego.  It  was  in  the  stirring  days  of  the  war,  and  the 
excitement  ran  high.  A  public  meeting  was  called  the 
night  before  the  election  in  the  principal  hall  of  the  city,  to 
ratify  the.  nomination.  The  hall  was  densely  packed,  and 
upon  this  occasion  Mr.  FORT  made  his  first  speech.  Young 
and  inexperienced  in  politics,  and  comparatively  unknown 
up  to  that  time,  that  effort  convinced  the  Eepublicans  that 
the  confidence  of  their  convention  had  not  been  misplaced. 
The  late  Hon.  HEXRY  FITZHUGH,  who  presided  at  the  meet- 
ing, slapped  his  hands  during  the  speech,  exclaiming,  em- 
phatically, "  He'll  do  —  he'll  do ! "  And  he  did  do. 

Mr.  FORT  was  elected.  As  Mayor  of  the  city  it  became 
necessary  that  he  should  take  an  active  part  in  the  raising 
of  men  for  the  war  under  the  various  calls  of  the  govern- 
ment. To  this  work  he  lent  his  full  energies.  Having 
"  broken  the  ice  "  in  the  Eepublican  ratification  meeting,  lie 
soon  become  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  ready  public 
speakers  in  the  city.  He  addressed  meeting  after  meeting, 
not  only  in  the  city  of  Oswego,  but  in  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, and  no  man  in  his  county  rendered  the  government 
more  efficient  service  than  he  did  down  to  the  close  of  the 
war. 

From  the  close  of  his  term  as  Mayor  down  to  his  election 
to  the  Assembly  in  1871,  Mr.  FORT  allowed  himself  to 
become  a  candidate  for  no  political  office.  He  was  elected 
and  served  a  term  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
of  the  city,  in  which  body  he  was  an  active  and  influential 
member,  always  laboring  to  promote  the  efficiency  of  the 
schools  and  to  advance  the  interests  of  education.  While 
Mayor  he  became  acquainted  with  the  working  of  the  laws 
for  the  support  of  the  poor  of  the  city,  and  matured  the  plan 
which  was  subsequently  adopted,  under  which  the  poor  of 
the  city  are  now  supported.  This  system,  non-partisan  in 
operation,  is  unlike  that  of  any  other  city  in  the  State. 
Although  condemned  and  severely  denounced  by  the  party 
in  powor  in  the  city  when  it  became  a  law,  it  has  proved  a 


204  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

great  success  in  every  respect,  saving  the  tax  payers  of  the 
city  thousands  of  dollars  annually,  while  the  poor  are  more 
comfortable  and  better  provided  for  than  ever  before.  This 
system  has  been  so  successful  in  Oswego  that  no  one  now 
asks  for  its  repeal,  and  other  cities  are  looking  into  its  fea- 
tures with  a  view  to  its  adoption. 

Although,  as  we  have  stated,  Mr.  FORT,  until  recently,  has 
not  allowed  himself  to  be  a  candidate  for  any  political  office, 
no  man  in  his  section  of  the  State  has  been  more  active  in 
promoting  the  success  of  the  Eepublican  party.  A  ready, 
popular  and  effective  speaker,  the  opening  of  every  campaign 
has  been  the  signal  for  him  to  take  the  field  in  behalf  of  the 
principles  and  candidates  of  his  party.  During  every  politi- 
cal canvass  during  the  past  few  years  there  is  no  speaker  in 
his  county  whose  services  have  been  so  frequently  called  for 
in  every  section,  and  during  the  late  national  political  can- 
vass his  services  were  frequently  called  for  by  the  State 
Kepublican  Committee  to  address  meetings  in  various  parts 
of  the  State.  These  calls  he  has  always  responded  to  very 
acceptably  to  the  people  whenever  his  business  duties  would 
permit. 

Mr.  FORT'S  readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  his  untiring 
activity,  have  resulted  in  his  frequently  being  called  upon  to 
serve  his  fellow-citizens  in  various  capacities.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  is  frequently  selected 
to  represent  his  city  in  commercial,  railroad  and  business 
conventions  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  His  knowledge 
of  the  laws  of  commerce  and  trade,  and  his  energy  of  char- 
acter, make  his  services  in  such  bodies  always  valuable,  and 
reflect  credit  upon  those  who  make  him  their  representative. 

In  1871  Mr.  FORT  accepted  the  Republican  nomination  in 
his  district  (the  first  of  Oswego  county),  for  Member  of 
Assembly.  It  was  in  the  palmy  days  of  TNVEKD.  The  dis- 
trict was  regarded  as  a  close  one,  and  one  of  the  number  in 
the  State  that  had  been  selected,  in  which  extraordinary 
•  •Hurts  should  be  made  to  save  the  Legislature  to  the 


DA. vi EL  G.  FORT.  205 

Pemccracy.  That  party  nominated  its  most  popular  man. 
and  the  contest  became  an  animated  one,  resulting  in  the 
election  of  Mr.  FORT.  In  the  Legislature,  his  knowledge  of 
business  and  commerce  gave  him  the  important  position  of 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Canals,  an  unusual  compli- 
ment to  a  new  member.  The  manner  in  which  the  duties  of 
that  committee  were  discharged  fully  vindicated  the  wisdom 
of  the  Speaker  in  his  selection  of  its  chairman.  Mr.  FORT, 
in  that  Legislature,  was  also  complimented  by  a  position  upon 
the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  and  other  important 
committees. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  in  the  Legislature  of  1872 
Mr.  FORT  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential 
members,  and  that  his  legislative  record  was  unspotted;  his 
lidclity  to  the  interests  of  his  constituents  and  the  State  was 
unquestioned.  In  the  Republican  Convention  of  his  district 
in  the  fall  of  1872,  he  was  complimented  by  a  unanimous 
nomination  for  re-election.  The  Democrats  and  Liberals 
brought  out  against  him  Hon.  D.  C.  LITTLEJOHX,  who 
accepted  the  nomination.  It  was  understood  at  once,  all  over 
the  district,  that  it  was  to  be  a  contest  between  titans.  Mr. 
FORT  had.  to  his  advantage,  a  small  majority  in  the  district, 
personal  popularity,  and  indomitable  "pluck ''and  energy. 
Mr.  LITTLEJOHX  had  the  prestige  of  unbroken  success  as  a 
political  candidate,  almost  unbounded  popularity,  and  a  per- 
sonal following  which  could  be  boasted  by  but  few  other 
public  men  in  the  State.  He  was  also  at  the  head  of  the  Mid- 
land Railroad,  which,  Avith  its  officers  and  car  works,  gave 
him  great  personal  strength.  The  Democrats  and  "  Liberals  " 
entered  the  contest  entirely  confident  of  success.  Both  can- 
didates, so  to  speak,  stripped  for  the  encounter.  It  was  lit- 
erally a  "hand  to  hand  tight."'  Every  other  issue  was  lost 
sight  of  in  the  discussions  and  encounters  which  followed. 
Probably  never  in  this  State  had  there  been  so  exciting  and 
animated  a  canvass  over  a  question  of  this  kind.  Ft  assumed 
more  than  local  importance,  and  the  leaders  of  both  parties, 


206  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

all  over  the  State,  watched  the  issue  with  great  interest. 
Notwithstanding  the  great  efforts  put  forth,  the  sturdy 
Eepublicans  of  the  district  stood  firm  by  the  principles  of 
their  party  and  their  candidate.  Mr.  FORT  was  elected  by 
one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  majority. 

Mr.  FORT'S  prominence  in  the  last  Legislature,  and  the 
notice  which  the  contest  in  his  district  attracted  throughout 
the  State,  caused  the  suggestion  of  his  name  for  the  Speaker- 
ship,  and  he  was  frequently  urged  to  become  a  candidate  for 
that  honor,  but  he  promptly  and  peremptorily  declined  the 
use  of  his  name  in  that  connection. 

In  the  present  Assembly  he  has  been  awarded  the  position  of 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  by  common 
consent  regarded  as  the  most  important  and  leading  Com- 
mittee of  the  House.  The  Chairmanship  of  this  Committee 
is  a  position  rarely  attained  by  one  year's  service  in  the  Legis- 
lature. That  Mr.  FORT  has  done  and  will  do  himself  honor 
in  the  prominent  place  he  has  reached,  no  one  familiar  with 
the  doings  of  the  Assembly  of  the  present  winter  will  doubt. 

Mr.  FORT  is  still  in  the  vigor  of  manhood.  In  addition  to 
his  duties  as  Cashier  and  principal  manager  of  an  important 
banking  institution,  he  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  WHEELER, 
FORT  &  Co.,  an  extensive  Milling  house  in  Oswego,  and  has 
been  engaged  in  various  other  business  enterprises.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  has  always  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  enterprises  and  movements  of  every 
description  to  advance  the  business,  moral  or  religious  inter- 
ests of  his  city. 

With  a  pleasing  address,  a  hearty  and  unaffected  manner 
which  "  takes  with  the  people,"  with  ability  and  energy,  and 
at  least  a  laudable  ambition,  it  may  safely  be  believed  that 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  still  before  him,  either  in  the 
public  or  private  walks  of  life,  a  useful  and  an  honorable 
career. 


THOMAS  M.  FOWLER.  207 


THOMAS  M.  FOWLER. 


Mr.  FOWLER,  who  resides  in  the  village  of  Wayland,  was 
a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  1872,  and  established  a  repu- 
tation for  faithfulness  to  duty  and  honesty  of  purpose 
greatly  to  his  credit.  Though  a  man  of  few  Avords,  his  acts 
are  ever  prompted  by  correct  understanding  and  sound  con- 
victions, and  few  members  of  the  last  House,  or  of  the 
present  one,  can  show  a  cleaner  record  in  every  way  than 
THOMAS  M.  FOWLER. 

Born  in  the  town  of  Gorham,  Ontario  county,  on  the  25th 
of  May,  1823,  Mr.  F.  is  now  turning  a  half  century  of  exist- 
ence. He  is  the  son  of  REUBEN  W.  FOWLER,  who  was  born 
in  Connecticut  shortly  after  the  close  of  the  revolution  and 
died  in  1856  at  the  age  of  78.  Mr.  FOWLER'S  mother  is  still 
living. 

Young  FOWLER  was  educated  mainly  at  the  common 
schools,  but  he  spent  some  time  at  the  Genesee  Wesleyan 
Seminary  at  Lima,  Livingston  county,  and  there  perfected 
himself  in  several  branches  not  so  thoroughly  taught  in  the 
district  schools  of  that  day.  The  first  regular  business  he 
engaged  in  after  reaching  years  of  manhood,  was  that  con- 
nected with  the  operation  of  a  foundry  and  mill.  In  this 
he  was  quite  successful,  remaining  in  it  up  to  the  year  1870. 
Since  that  time  he  has  bee"n  in  the  produce  and  commission 
business,  and  has  also  invested  pretty  largely  in  the  lumber 
trade. 

Mr.  FOWLER  has  been  quite  active  in  politics  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  few  men  in  Steuben  county  possess  a  larger 
degree  of  influence  in  the  Republican  party.  Xatunilly, 
he  has  been  frequently  urged  to  fill  positions  of  trust  in  the 
gift  of  the  party,  and  occasionally  he  has  accepted  such 
positions.  "\Vhen  he  has  done  so  he  has  invariably  brought 
to  the  performance  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  him,  a  high 


^08  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

degree  of  ability,  as  well  as  a  conscientious  regard  for  the 
public  interests. 

In  1863  he  was  chosen  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Spring- 
water.  Livingston  county,  where  he  then  resided,  and  so  sat- 
isfactorily did  he  represent  his  town  in  the  Board  that  he 
was  re-elected  the  ensuing  year  without  opposition.  Remov- 
ing afterward  to  "Way-land,  he  soon  acquired  popularity,  and 
in  1871  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  and  served  through 
the  session  on  the  Committees  on  Internal  Affairs  and  on 
Expenditures  of  the  Executive  Department.  In  the  present 
House  he  is  member  of  the  Committees  on  Eoads  and  Bridges, 
Two-thirds  and  Three-fifths  Bills,  and  Joint  Library. 

Mr.  FOWLER  had  the  good  or  ill  fortune  to  be  drafted  in 
1864,  but  he  was  discharged  before  entering  the  service, 
thereby  cutting  short  what  might  have  been  a  brilliant  mili- 
tary record. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  the  foregoing,  Mr.  FOWLER  is 
an  earnest  Republican,  and  lias  been  such  since  the  party  was 
organized,  acting  with  the  Whigs  previous  to  that  time.  He 
was  married  iu  1848  to  Miss  HAXXAH  E.  EVERETT,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hon.  B.  EVERETT,  of  Herkimer  county.  He  is  a  man 
of  quite  striking  appearance,  though  he  is  extremely  plain 
and  unpretending  in  his  carriage  and  demeanor.  For  some 
time  previous  to  taking  his  seat  this  session  he  was  afflicted 
with  a  painful  and  lingering  illness,  but  he  is  rapidly  regain- 
ing his  wonted  health. 


JOHN  I.  FURBECK.  209 


JOHN  I.  FURBECK. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  born  in  New  Scot- 
land, Albany  county,  October  14,  1827.  His  father,  JOHN" 
FURBKCK,  who  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years, 
is  also  a  native  of  Albany  county,  and  has  followed  farming 
all  his  life.  Mr.  FURBECK  received  an  ample  common 
school  and  academic  education,  graduating  from  the  Onon- 
daga  Academy  with  all  the  honors  in  1847.  Brought  up  on 
a  farm,  however,  he  has  adhered  to  that  pursuit  during  most 
of  his  life,  though  he  has  also  engaged  in  business  more  or 
less  extensively,  dealing  especially  in  real  estate,  tobacco  and 
hops.  His  enterprises  have  been  uniformly  successful. 

Mr.  FURBECK  has  been  active  in  politics  from  early  youth, 
acting  first  with  the  Whig  and  then  with  the  Republican 
party.  It  has  invariably  been  his  desire  to  devote  his  time  to 
his  business  pursuits,  and  to  labor  at  his  own  expense  for  the 
success  of  the  Republican  party  and  the  advancement  of  its 
principles.  Always  prominent  in  the  party  caucuses  and 
local  conventions,  he  has  been  relied  upon  as  a  trusted  leader 
and  wise  manager.  Several  times,  also,  he  has  been  intrusted 
with  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  none  of  which  have  been  of 
his  own  seeking.  These  positions  he  has  uniformly  filled  with 
fidelity  and  ability.  In  1858  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  evinced  such  manifest  fitness  for  the  position  that 
he  was  four  times  re-elected  thereto,  and  is  now  an  incumbent 
of  the  magisterial  office.  The  first  time  he  ran  for  Justice  of 
the  Peace  was  when  his  town  was  considered  Democratic — but 
two  other  Republicans  beingelected — he  receiving  185  major- 
ity. He  was  triumphantly  re-elected  the  second  term  ;  the 
third  term  he  ran  145  ahead  of  his  ticket;  and  the  fourth 
term  he  was  87  ahead  of  his  ticket,  Avith  one  of  the  strongest 
opponents  in  the  county  Democracy  against  him.  In  1862 
he  was  elected  Associate  Jud^e,  and  served  four  years.  In 
14 


210  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

1861  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Collamer,  and  still 
holds  the  position.  Finally  his  fellow-citizens  determined 
that  he  was  fitted  for  higher  honors.  The  Assembly  conven- 
tion of  his  district — the  third  of  Onondaga — gave  him,  on 
the  informal  ballot,  thirty-four  out  of  its  thirty-seven  votes 
as  its  candidate  for  member,  and  he  was  nominated  by  accla- 
mation. 

He  had  refused  a  number  of  times  to  become  a  candidate, 
and  did  not  accede  to  the  persistent  demands  of  the  press  of 
the  district  and  his  personal  friends  until  about  one  hour 
before  the  Convention  was  organized.  The  vote  was  very 
flattering  in  view  of  the  fact  that  he  made  no  effort  to  secure 
a  single  delegate.  The  succeeding  canvass  was  sharply  con- 
tested, but  he  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  639  over  GARRET 
DOYLE,  his  Democratic  competitor.  He  serves  the  House 
and  his  constituency  effectively  as  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittees on  Villages,  Public  Printing,  and  Manufacture  of 
Salt. 

Mr.  FURBECK  was  married  April  17,  1852,  to  EMILY 
MOSHEK,  of  Albany  county.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  In  all  his  intercourse  and  relations  with  others  he 
is  the  soul  of  probity  and  honor,  and  is  just  what  he  seems 
— a  plain,  unpretentious  man  of  business. 


WILLIAM  H.  II.  GKRK.  211 


WILLIAM   H.    H.  GERE. 


Mr.  GERE  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  successor  of 
Governor  ALVORD,  from  the  First  district  of  Onondaga.  Tt 
is  but  just  to  add,  however,  that  this  fact  does  not  constitute 
his  sole  claim  to  consideration,  as  he  is  one  of  the  most  wide- 
awake and  substantial  citizens  of  Central  New  York. 

Mr.  GERE  was  born  in  Geddes,  where  he  still  resides,  on 
the  14th  of  August,  1820,  his  father  being  ROBERT  GERE,  a 
native  of  Xew  London,  Conn.,  and  still  living,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven.  He  received  a  very  thorough  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  at  Homer  Academy,  taking  especial 
pains  to  qualify  himself  for  the  profession  of  civil  engineer- 
ing, which  he  afterward  followed  for  a  number  of  years. 
For  a  long  time  previous  to  1868,  he  served  the  State  as 
Resident  and  Division  Engineer  on  the  canals.  In  1866  he 
was  appointed  I  nspcctor  of  .the  Onondaga  Penitentiary,  and 
continues  to  hold  the  office.  He  was  also  elected  Supervisor 
of  the  town  of  Geddes  six  successive  terms,  commencing  in 
1864.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  salt  and 
iron,  and,  we  may  add,  is  honorably  accumulating  a  com- 
petence. 

Mr.  GERE  has  always  been  a  straightforward,  active 
Republican,  and  in  the  late  canvass  he  was  chosen  to  the 
Assembly  by  a  decided  majority  over  THOMAS  G.  ALVORD, 
the  candidate;  of  the  Liberals  and  Democrats,  although 
extraordinary  efforts  were  made  to  secure  his  defeat. 

Physically,  Mr.  GERE  is  a  robust,  vigorous  man,  with  a 
large  and  well-proportioned  frame,  and  a  countenance  glow- 
ing with  health.  He  also  possesses  a  generous  heart,  and 
correct  instincts,  while  his  entire  personality,  in  fact,  is  so 
constituted  that  he  will  undoubtedly  be  proof  against  all  the 
deleterious  influences  pervading  the  capitol.  whether  they  be 
the  mephitic  gases  of  the  Assembly  chamber,  or  the  sediic- 


212  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

tive  wiles  of  the  swarming  lobbyists.  Mr.  GERE  is  not  a 
public  speaker,  his  abilities  tending  rather  toward  practical 
and  effective  work,  for  which,  whether  in  or  out  of  the 
Legislature,  he  is  well  qualified  by  nature  and  education. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Cities  and  Indian 
Affairs. 


STEPHEN  F.  GILBERT. 


The  member  from  the  Second  District  of  Steuben  is  an 
active,  energetic,  well-informed  gentleman  of  about  thirty- 
one  years  of  age.  With  the  exception  of  two  years  recently 
spent  in  Rochester,  he  has  resided  in  Hornellsville  nearly  all 
his  life.  He  was  born  in  Grovelaiid,  Livingston  county,  on 
the  28th  of  February,  1842.  His  parents  moved  to  Hor- 
nellsville about  a  week  later,  and  young  GILBERT  enjoyed  the 
benefit  of  common  school  education  until  his  twelfth  year, 
after  which  he  had  few  educational  opportunities,  except 
those  which  came  by  reading  and  observation.  He  is  an 
accomplished  stenographer,  and  is  probably  the  first  profes- 
sional short-hand  writer  ever  elected  to  the  Assembly.  Since 
1865  he  has  been  a  regular  reporter  in  the  courts  of  the  Sixth 
and  Seventh  judicial  districts,  and  lias  attained  considerable 
eminence  as  an  accurate  and  rapid  stenographer. 

Mr.  GILBERT  served  honorably  in  the  Avar  of  the  rebellion. 
In  the  summer  of  1862  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company 
F,  141st  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  and  participated 
in  numerous  battles  and  marches  until  he  was  honorably 
discharged  in  the  fall  of  1864. 

Always  an  enthusiastic  Republican,  Mr.  GILBERT  has  been 
quite  active  in  the  local  politics  of  Hornellsville  since  he  Avas 
quite  young,  but  he  never  held  office  until  the  present  year. 
He  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  1,107  over 
JOHN  McDouGALL,  his  Democratic  opponent.  He  serves 


GEORGE  A.  Goss.  213 

on  the  Committee  on  Petitions  of  Aliens,  Expenditures  of 
the  House,  and  Privileges  and  Elections.  His  record  thus 
1'a.r,  while  devoid  of  any  marked  feature,  has  heen  such  as 
to  reflect  honor  upon  his  constituency. 


GEORGE  A.  GOSS. 


Mr.  Goss  was  born  at  Pittsford,  N".  Y.,  March  3,  1834.  He 
is  the  son  of  Hon.  EPIIRAIM  Goss,  who  represented  the 
Twenty-eighth  (Rochester)  district  in  the  State  Senate 
during  the  years  I860  and  18G1.  Senator  Goss  was  born 
in  West  Fulton,  Schoharie  county,  N.  Y.,  on  the  12th 
of  June,  1806.  Mr.  Goss's  mother  was  the  daughter  of 
CHAUZSTCEY  PORTER,  and  born  in  Nassau,  Rensselaer  county, 
N.  Y.,  March  9,  1814;  his  greatgrandfather,  EPHRAIM  Goss, 
served  through  the  Avar  of  Independence,  and  was  a  gallant 
and  successful  soldier.  The  subject  of  this  sketcli  received 
his  education  in  the  common  and  union  district  school.  For 
a  short  time  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farmer,  but  for 
several  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  commission  busi- 
ness. His  first  vote  was  given  for  the  Republican  ticket  in 
the  year  1855,  and  he  has  ever  since  been  a  reliable  and  active 
Republican,  devoting  much  time  as  a  member  of  the  County 
Central  Committee  and  otherwise  to  the  success  of  the 
party.  Besides  holding  a  number  of  town  offices,  he  was  in 
the  year  1871  unanimously  nominated  by  the  Republican 
Convention  of  the  First  Assembly  district  of  Monroe  county, 
and  triumphantly  elected,  and  in  1872  was  re-elected  by  a 
large  majority,  defeating  RICHARD  I).  COLE,  the  Democratic 
candidate.  Mr.  Goss  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Expenditures  of  the  Executive  Department,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Committees  on  Villages  and  Education,  and  a 
regular  attendant  upon  the  sessions  of  the  House,  looking 


214  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

after  the  interest  of  the  State,  and  especially  watching  and 
taking  care  of  the  business  of  his  constituents. 

Frank,  genial  and  courteous  in  his  intercourse  with  every 
one,  Mr.  Goss  is  certainly  a  very  popular  member  of  the 
present  House.  He  is  large  and  well  built,  with  a  prepos- 
sessing countenance,  intelligent  blue  eyes,  and  generally 
agreeable  presence.  He  possesses  what  is  a  prime  requisite  to 
those  compelled  to  labor  in  the  fetid  atmosphere  of  the  As- 
sembly Chamber,  a  sound  constitution  and  robust  phvsique, 
but  above  all,  h«  is  a  man  of  unquestioned  integrity  of  char- 
acter and  earnestness  of  purpose.  He  is  still  unmarried. 


MATTHEW  GRIFFIN. 


Mr.  GRIFFIN  is  a  self-made  man.  His  early  youth  was 
passed  amid  humble  surroundings,  and  though  he  was  com- 
pelled to  earn  his  own  support  from  a  very  early  age,  he 
managed,  by  close  application  during  his  winter  schooling, 
to  obtain  a  good  education.  He  was  born  in  Dutchess 
county,  in  this  State,  October  22,  1811.  of  parents  who  were 
of  English  descent,  his  father's  name  being  EZEKIEL  GRIF- 
FIN. His  father,  now  deceased,  moved  to  Delaware  county, 
and  there  young  GRIFFIN  worked  by  the  day  or  week  at 
whatever  presented  itseli  in  the  way  of  occupation  until  his 
twenty-sixth  year,  by  which  time,  as  the  results  of  his  habits 
of  prudence  and  close  economy,  he  had  accumulated  quite  a 
respectable  savings.  He  then  entered  mercantile  business, 
and  though  he  found  it  moderately  remunerative,  he  disposed 
of  it  ten  years  later  and  moved  to  Ulster  county,  where  he 
engaged  in  steam  forwarding.  He  remained  in  this  branch 
of  trade  but  three  years,  however,  when  he  sold  out  his  in- 
terest, and,  returning  to  Delaware  county,  resumed  the  pur- 
suit he  left,  being  able,  with  increased  capital,  to  conduct  it 
much  more  advantageously  and  extensivelv. 


MATTHEW  GRIFFIN.  215 

In  the  mean  time,  Mr.  GRIFFIN  was  a  hard  student,  spend- 
ing most  of  his  leisure  in  a  determined  effort  (.0  master  a 
knowledge  of  the  law.  As  a  result  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1851,  and  has  since,  besides  attending  to  his  mercan- 
tile business,  practiced  as  an  attorney  and  counselor  more 
or  less  continuously,  and  with  a  good  degree  of  success.  His 
probity  of  character  and  purity  of  life,  together  with  the 
warm  interest  he  ever  felt  in  the  welfare  of  those  around 
him,  made  him  very  popular  among  his  townsmen,  and  he 
has  been  frequently  called  upon  to  fill  positions  of  local 
official  trust.  It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  in  one  instance 
he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  a  town  where  the 
party  vote  was  about  160  majority  against  him. 

In  his  political  connection,  Mr.  GRIFFIN  has  always  been 
either  Whig  or  Republican.  He  voted  for  HENRY  CLAY  for 
President  three  times,  and  for  HARRISON  twice.  He  voted 
for  TAYLOR  in  1852,  and  for  SCOTT  in  1856.  Since  that  time 
his  votes  and  influence  have  been  given  to  the  nominees  of 
the  Republican  party.  His  Assembly  district  is  quite  closely 
contested,  but  he  was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1871  by  a  major- 
ity of  266,  and  in  the  recent  canvass,  after  a  very  spirited 
contest,  he  exceeded  those  figures  by  nearly  a  hundred  votes. 
His  popularity  may,  therefore,  be  said  to  rest  upon  a  very 
solid  basis. 

Of  his  course  in  the  Assembly,  it  is  sufficient  to  say  that 
he  has  fully  justified  the  confidence  of  those  who  elected 
him.  He  is  a  good  speaker,  a  man  of  strong  convictions 
and  earnest  views,  and  has  regard  at  all  times  to  what  is  for 
the  best  interest  of  the  commonwealth.  He  participates 
frequently  and  ably  in  debate,  and  being  active  and  ener- 
getic in  the  performance  of  his  dutv,  he  may  fairly  be 
regarded  as  among  the  most  efficient  members  of  the  lower 
House. 

Though  he  is  in  the  prime  of  life,  his  personal  aspect  is 
quite  venerable,  his  tall  and  commanding  form  and  patri- 
archal beard,  giving  him  a  dignity  which  comports  well  with 


216  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

a  demeanor  in  which  courtesy,  frankness  and  modesty  are 
the  chief  characteristics.  He  was  married  in  the  year  1833  to 
Miss  CLAKA  DODGE,  by  whom  he  has  had  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters.  His  eldest  son  died  in  1872  ;  but 
the  rest  of  his  children  are  all  comfortably  settled  in  life. 
His  second  son  is  a  graduate  of  the  Albany  Law  school,  and 
is  now  practicing  with  very  fair  prospects. 


LEONARD  F.  HARDY. 


Mr.  HAKDY  was  born  in  Westminster,  Vermont,  in 
August,  1827,  his  parents  removing  to  this  State  and  settling 
in  Cortland  county  when  he  was  quite  young.  He  secured 
a  thorough  education  in  Cortland  Academy  and  in  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Albany,  graduating  from  the  latter  insti- 
tution in  1855.  He  adopted  teaching  as  a  profession,  and 
was  for  eight  years  principal  of  the  Weedsport  Union  School. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Weeds- 
port,  which  he  still  continues  very  successfully.  He  held  the 
position  of  School  Commissioner  from  1867  to  1872,  but, 
with  that  exception,  he  has  never  held  public  office  until  his 
election  to  the  Assembly.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since 
the  organization  of  the  party,  and  previous  to  that  was  a 
Whig.  He  succeeds  Dr.  IRA  D.  BROWX  in  the  Assembly, 
and  in  the  recent  canvass  received  a  majority  of  1,020,  a  gain 
of  nearly  400  on  the  Assembly  vote  of  the  previous  year.  He 
is  an  efficient  and  wide-awake  member,  serving  on  the  Com- 
mittees on  Expenditures  of  the  House,  Public  Lands,  and 
Engrossed  Bills. 


JAMES  HAYES.  217 


JAMES  HAYES. 


Mr.  HATES'  parents  were  born  in  Ireland  and  emigrated 
to  this  country  many  years  ago,  locating  in  New  York  city, 
where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  llth  of 
May,  1830.  Though  his  father's  family  were  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances, young  HAYES  managed  to  obtain  a  good  ordi- 
nary education  at  the  public  schools.  At  an  early  age  he 
entered  a  printing  office  and  learned  the  "  art  preservative." 
He  worked  at  the  press  several  years  after  attaining  his 
majority,  but  finally  abandoned  printing.  During  the  palmy 
days  of  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  Mr.  HAYES  was  an 
active  and  prominent  member  and  officer,  and  for  a  number 
of  years  he  was  honorably  identified  with  that  organization 
of  the  past.  From  a  very  early  age  Mr.  HAYES  has  mingled 
more  or  less  in  local  politics.  A  disciple  of  the  Tammany  Hall 
society  in  its  best  days,  he  is  still  a  trusted  member  of  that 
association  of  politicians,  and  one  of  the  most  influential 
Democrats  of  that  stripe  in  the  third  Assembly  district. 
The  extent  to  which  he  has  been  trusted  by  the  rank  and  file, 
as  well  as  the  leaders  of  the  party,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Common  Council  for  five 
years  in  succession,  being  first  elected  in  the  spring  of  1862. 
In  1866  he  was  chosen  Supervisor  and  held  a  seat  in  that 
board  for  live  consecutive  years.  In  these  capacities  he  has 
shown  signal  ability,  not  so  much  in  speech-making,  however, 
as  in  managing  the  practical  details  of  local  legislation  and  in 
closely  watching  the  interests  of  his  constituents.  In  1870  lie 
warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Young  Democracy.  His 
temporary  defection  from  Tammany  Hall  did  not  result  in 
any  loss  of  popularity,  inasmuch  as  he  was  elected  to  the 
Assembly  in  the  fall  of  1871  by  a  very  decided  majority. 
His  services  as  a  State  legislator  were  so  satisfactory  to  his 
constituents,  that  he  was  re-elected. 


218  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Last  year  he  served  on  the  Committees  on  Trade  and 
Manufactures,  and  Indian  Affairs.  In  the  present  session  he 
is  on  the  Committees  on  Expenditures  of  the  House,  and 
Public  Lands.  Mr.  HAYES  is  a  slimly-built,  dark-complex- 
ioned man  ;  his  countenance  indicates  a  high  degree  of  intel- 
ligent capacity  and  the  ability  to  appreciate  the  requirements 
of  any  situation.  He  is  a  married  man,  and  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  church. 


WILLARD  J.  HEACOCK. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  modest  and  unassuming  in 
deportment,  but,  as  Chairman  of  the  Railroad  Committee,  he 
is  one  of  the  active  workers  of  the  Assembly.  Mr.  HEA- 
COCK was  born  in  the  town  of  Johnstown,  Fulton  county,  on 
the  5th  of  April,  1821,  near  what  is  now  the  nourishing  vil- 
lage of  Gloversville,  and  his  present  residence.  His  parents, 
PHILANDER  and  MARGARET  SMITH  HEACOCK,  were  both 
natives  of  Connecticut.  They  settled  at  Johnstown  soon 
after  their  marriage,  and  died  in  the  meridian  of  life,  within 
a  few  days  of  each  other,  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children, 
several  of  whom  were  at  the  time  quite  young.  Mr.  HEA- 
COCK enjoyed  the  advantage  of  an  excellent  common  school 
and  academic  education,  spending  several  terms  in  the  acad- 
emy at  Kingsboro,  then  considered  one  of  the  best  educa- 
tional institutions  in  the  State.  He  commenced  business 
life  as  a  merchant  at  Kingsboro,  within  sight  of  his  late 
father's  home,  and  amid  his  early  friends  and  associates. 
Four  years  subsequently  he  began  the  manufacture  of  gloves 
and  mittens  on  quite  a  large  scale,  and  has.  for  twenty- 
five  years,  carried  on  that  branch  of  industry  with  marked 
success.  Latterly  his  energies  have  been  directed  to  the 
accomplishment  of  certain  railroad  projects  which  will 
ultimately  be  of  great  benefit  to  that  section  of  the  State 


WlLLAKD  J.   HE  ACOCK.  219 

The  fact  that  he  is  now  President  of  two  railroad  corpora- 
tions —  the  Fonda,  Johnstown  and  Gloversville,  and  the  Glov- 
ersville  and  Northville  railroads,  the  first  of  which  has  been 
some  time  in  successful  operation  —  is  a  sufficient  indication 
of  the  interest  felt  by  him  in  local  enterprises,  and  of  the 
public  appreciation  of  his  services. 

Mr.  II.  is  not  a  stranger  to  legislative  halls,  having  served 
as  a  member  of  Assembly  in  1863,  when  he  was  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Trade  and  Manufactures. 

The  Fulton  and  Hamilton  district  is  closely  contested 
politically,  and  it  was,  therefore,  a  most  gratifying  compli- 
ment to  him  when  he  was  chosen  over  so  popular  an  oppo- 
nent as  NIEL  STEWART,  by  the  decided  majority  of  234,  to 
represent  the  district  in  the  Assembly. 

Mr.  HEACOCK  was  a  Whig  until  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  was  not  only  active  among  those  who 
aided  in  the  organization  of  that  party,  but  has,  up  to  the 
present  time,  remained  unchangeably  attached  to  its  princi- 
ples and  policy.  In  all  his  business  and  public  relations 
Mr.  HEACOCK  is  a  man  of  unswerving  and  scrupulous  integ- 
rity. He  possesses  many  qualities  which  constitute  him  the 
ornament  and  favorite  of  the  social  circle,  while  tone  and 
strength  are  given  to  his  character  by  a  consistent  practice 
of  the  principles  and  precepts  of  the  Christian  religion.  For 
many  years  lie  lias  been  a  ruling  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  He  was 
most  active  in  the  organization  of  the  Presbyterian  society 
of  Gloversville,  and  it  is  largely  to  his  exertions  and  contri- 
butions that  it  now  occupies  a  commodious  and  beautiful 
house  of  worship,  and,  generally,  is  in  a  very  flourishing  con- 
dition. Mr.  HEACOCK  was  married  on  the  llth  of  February, 
1845,  to  MINERVA,  only  daughter  of  the  Rev.  R.  A.  AVERY, 
with  whom  he  still  lives,  within  a  mile  of  the  spot  on  which 
they  first  settled.  In  the  present  session,  in  addition  to  being 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Railroads,  Mr.  HEACOCK  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Trade  and  Manufactures. 


220  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JAMES  HEALEY. 


The  First  district  of  New  York  city,  embracing  wards  1, 
2,  3  and  5,  is  represented  for  the  second  time  consecutively 
by  Hon.  JAMES  HEALEY.  He  was  elected  to  the  present 
House  by  a  plurality  of  362  over  the  Apollo  Hall  and  Ee- 
publican  candidates,  the  latter  being,  however,  very  much  in 
the  minority  in  that  district.  His  plurality  in  1871  was  401. 
He  has  served  on  several  important  committees  during  the 
two  sessions,  and  is  a  faithful  adherent  of  the  Tammany 
Hall  wing  of  the  Democracy.  He  is  a  man  of  considerable 
ability,  though  he  makes  no  claims  to  oratorical  attainments, 
and,  generally,  his  legislative  course  is  such  as  to  reflect 
credit  upon  his  constituency. 


HORATIO  S.  HENDEE. 


Dr.  HENDEE,  of  Carthage,  worthily  represents  the  Second 
district  of  Jefferson  county.  A  man  of  commanding  presence 
and  high  grade  of  ability,  he  is  one  of  the  marked  members 
of  the  present  House,  and  not  only  gives  every  measure  close 
scrutiny  but  is  active  in  forwarding  those  which  he  deems 
conducive  to  the  public  welfare.  He  was  born  in  Greig, 
Lewis  county,  November  llth,  1826,  and  is,  therefore,  about 
forty-six  years  of  age.  His  parents,  CALEB  and  RUTH  HEN- 
DEE,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  from  whence  they  moved  to 
New  York  shortly  after  their  marriage.  Mr.  HKNDEE'S 
mother  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  eighty,  but  his  father 
died  in  1833. 

Mr.  HENDEE  secured  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  common 
school  education,  and  early  chose  the  medical  profession. 


HORATIO  S.  HEN  DEE.  221 

in  which  he  has  attained  considerable  eminence  as  a  practic- 
ing physician  and  surgeon.  After  the  completion  of  his 
studies  he  visited  Europe,  and  gained  much  knowledge  of 
value  in  his  profession.  During  his  absence  the  rebellion 
broke  out,  and  on  his  return  he  offered  his  services  in  the 
Union  cause.  He  was  commissioned  Surgeon  of  the  183d 
Regiment,  New  York  volunteers,  and  during  the  years  1862, 
1863  and  1864,  he  served  with  distinction  in  that  capacity, 
and  acquired  a  professional  experience  which  was  invaluable 
to  him.  On  leaving  the  army  he  settled  at  Carthage  in  a 
lucrative  practice,  which  he  still  enjoys. 

In  political  belief,  Mr.  HENDEE  is  an  uncompromising  and 
earnest  Republican,  having  always  acted  with  that  party 
since  its  organization,  though  his  first  vote  was  cast  for 
Whig  candidates.  He  has  always  been  adverse  to  accepting 
public  honors,  however,  and  never  held  office  previous  to  his 
present  term  in  the  Assembly.  He  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  300  over  ANDREW  J.  CORNWALL,  his  Democratic  oppo- 
nent. He  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  State  Chari- 
table Institutions,  and  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  the 
Militia  and  Public  Health. 

Mr.  HENDEE  is  a  man  of  large  frame  and  iron  constitu- 
tion, and  his  physiognomy  denotes  that  he  is  also  a  man  of 
deep  convictions  and  sound  judgment.  He  is  now  in  the 
prime  of  life,  and  with  a  mind  fully  matured  and  ripened  in 
the  school  of  experience,  he  is  in  all  respects  a  safe  counselor 
and  an  able  legislator.  He  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife  Avas  SABRA  L.  MYERS.  She  died  in  January,  1871, 
twenty  years  after  her  marriage;  and  in  February,  1872,  he 
married  ELLA  F.  WARD.  For  many  years  past,  Mr.  HENDEE 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


222  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


CASTLE  W.  HEREICK. 


Mr.  HERRICK  is  a  native  of  Dutchess  county,  and  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Washington,  September  28,  1811.  He  is 
therefore  over  sixty  years  of  age,  though  he  does  not  appear 
to  be  more  than  fifty.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  elsewhere,  and  has  mainly  been  engaged 
in  commercial  life.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  patent  medicine  business  with  Dr.  L.  R.  HERRICK,  at 
Albany,  but  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in  that  in  1868,  and 
has  since  been  successfully  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
boots  and  shoes. 

Formerly  a  Whig,  and  latterly  a  Republican,  Mr.  HERRICK 
has  mingled  more  or  less  in  politics  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  now  occupies  a  leading  position  in  his  town  and  county. 
In  the  years  1859  and  1860  he  represented  his  town  in  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Rensselaer  county,  and  has,  besides, 
held  various  other  town  offices.  In  1860  he  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Republican  State  Convention.  In.  the  fall  of  1871  he  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  315,  and  served  his 
constituency  well  as  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Internal 
Affairs,  Public  Health,  and  Grievances.  He  was  elected  to 
the  present  House  by  the  largely  increased  majority  of  979. 
He  is  now  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Grievances,  and 
a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Internal  Affairs,  and  of  the 
Sub-Committee  of  the  Whole. 

Mr.  HERRICK  is  a  stoutly-built,  active  and  well-preserved 
man  of  business.  Rarely  absent  from  his  seat  during  the 
session,  he  closely  watches  the  public  interests,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  industrious  and  valuable  members  upon  the 
floor. 


WILLIAM  HERRING. 


WILLIAM    HERRING. 


Were  we  called  upon  to  name  the  most  effective  orator  in 
I  lie  present  Assembly,  we  should  certainly  be  inclined  to 
select  the  stalwart  representative  of  the  First  district  of  West- 
chester.  It  is  not  our  province,  however,  to  make  any  such 
invidious  distinction,  and  we  will  leave  to  others  the  delicate 
task  of  weighing  critically  the  points  of  comparison  between 
the  several  gentlemen  who  habitually  and  ably  take  part  in 
legislative  discussions.  Nevertheless  it  is  the  duty  of  the  edi- 
tors of  this  work  to  state  facts,  and  in  doing  so  they  cannot 
ignore  the  very  obvious  fact  that  Mr.  II  BERING'S  gifts  as  a  pub- 
lic speaker  are  of  a  very  high  order.  His  distinguishing  per 
sonal  characteristics  are  a  large  and  towering  form,  straight 
as  an  arrow  and  well  proportioned,  a  piercing  gray  eye,  a  well 
shaped  forehead,  and  a  physiognomy  suggestive  of  great 
mental  force  and  large  reserve  power.  With  magnificent 
physique  is  united  a  voice  round,  full  and  powerful,  having 
something  of  the  grandeur  of  mu filed  thunder  in  its  sonor- 
ous intensity,  a  manner  occasionally  impassioned,  but  always 
earnest  and  scholarly,  and  a  mind  from  which  is  evolved  with 
startling  rapidity  a  chain  of  consecutive  and  logical  ideas 
which  he  groups  and  arranges  around  the  pivotal  proposition 
with  rare  skill,  clothing  them  the  while  in  chaste  and  pol- 
ished language.  When  he  rises  to  address  the  House  he  at 
once  fastens  the  attention  of  every  person  within  the  sound 
of  his  voice,  and  fortunate  indeed  is  the  cause  which  secures 
his  eloquent  advocacy.  Although  he  is  serving  his  first  term 
in  the  halls  of  legislation,  he  is  already  known  as  at  least 
the  peer  of  the  most  brilliant  debaters  in  the  Assembly,  being 
especially  at  home  in  the  discussion  of  legal  questions.  Mr. 
HKIIRING  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  was  born  in  New 
.Brunswick  in  that  State  on  the  31st  of  January,  1833.  He 
conies  of  sterling  revolutionary  stock,  his  father,  CALEB 


224  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

HERRING,  having  been  born  a  few  years  after  the  close  of 
that  struggle  in  Fort  Putnam  on  the  Hudson  river.  His 
grandfather,  whose  name  was  also  CALEB,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  revolution,  and  served  his  country  faithfully  until  he  was 
killed  in  the  Indian  campaign  under  General  HARMAR.  Mr. 
HERRING'S  father  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-five. 
His  mother,  who  was  a  native  of  Newburgh,  Orange  county, 
has  been  dead  several  years. 

When  young  HERRING  had  reached  a  proper  age,  he  was 
placed  in  the  Normal  School  in  New  York  city.  There  he 
obtained  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  English  branches, 
and  subsequently  entered  the  Law  Department  of  Columbia 
College,  acquitting  himself  honorably  and  graduating  in  the 
year  1866.  In  1865,  however,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
the  Poughkeepsie  circuit  and,  on  his  graduation,  he  was  also 
admitted  to  the  bar  by  virtue  of  his  diploma  from  Columbia 
College.  He  at  once  commenced  an  active  practice  in  West- 
chester  county  and  in  New  York  city,  meeting  with  extra- 
ordinary success.  His  first  case,  which  was  a  mandamus 
upon  the  trustees  of  Morrisania,  was  a  brilliant  victory  for 
the  young  lawyer;  and  so  well  pleased  was  the  judge,  who, 
upon  his  motion,  affirmed  the  mandamus,  that  he  secured  a 
copy  of  his  brief  in  the  case  and  deposited  it  in  the  State 
Library.  Since  then  he  has  won  many  legal  victories,  and 
has  evinced  high  talent  as  an  advocate. 

Previous  to  the  war,  Mr.  HERRING  was  a  Democrat,  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  FRANKLIN  PIERCE  ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
first  gun  was  fired  at  Fort  Sumter  he  withdrew  his  allegiance 
from  the  party  with  which  his  youthful  associations  were 
connected,  and  transferred  it  to  the  organization  which  up- 
held the  government  in  its  struggle  with  rebellion.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  earnestly  and  uncompromisingly  a 
Republican  of  the  strictest  sect.  He  has  never  been  afflicted 
with  an  itching  for  office,  and  even  in  the  canvass  of  last  fall, 
when  he  was  deemed  the  fittest  person  to  carry  out,  in  the 
legislature,  certain  important  local  projects,  among  which 


ALBION  P.  HIGGINS.  225 

may  be  mentioned  the  scheme  to  annex  Westchester  county 
to  New  York  city,  he  was  for  a  long  time  exceedingly  reluc- 
tant to  be  a  candidate.  The  result  of  his  acceptance  was 
his  election  by  a  majority  of  656,  in  a  district  which  is  really 
about  1,350  Democratic.  As  an  evidence  of  his  popularity 
among  his  own  neighbors  and  friends,  it  is  worthy  of  men- 
tion that  the  town  of  Morrisania,  where  he  resided  several 
years,  gave  him  192  majority,  though  two  years  previous  it 
gave  Gov.  HOFFMAN"  944  majority.  He,  in  fact,  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  his  constituents,  while  his  course 
as  a  legislator  shows  that  the  people  of  Westchester  county 
have  wisely  judged  their  man.  In  the  House  his  unflinch- 
ing integrity,  straightforward  conduct,  polished  manners  and 
innumerable  graces  of  mind  and  heart,  have  won  the  friend- 
ship and  esteem  of  all  his  fellow-members.  He  is  one  of 
that  class  of  men,  none  too  numerous,  with  whom  a  mean 
action,  willfully  committed,  is  an  impossibility.  He  was 
married  about  fifteen  years  ago  to  an  estimable  lady,  and 
is  now  a  wealthy  and  substantial  citizen  of  West  Farms. 


ALBION  P.  HIGGINS. 


ALBION  P.  HIGGIXS,  youngest  son  of  Eev.  JOSEPH  HIG- 
, was  born  October  13,  1824,  in  Waldo  county,  Maine. 
He  received  an  academic  education  at  Parsonsfield  Seminary, 
in  that  State,  came  to  New  York  in  1852,  and  has  since 
been  engaged  in  the  piano  business  —  connected  with  the 
firm  of  T.  S.  BERRY  &  Co.,  789  Broadway,  but  making  his 
residence  in  Brooklyn.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the 
formation  of  the  party,  but  never  ran  for  office  until  last 
November,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  from  the 
5th  district  of  Kings  county  (7th  and  20th  wards  of  Brook- 
lyn), by  a  majority  of  845  over  JOHN  L.  HILL,  the  Democratic 
and  Liberal  candidate. 
15 


226  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Mr.  HIGGIXS  is  a  man  of  much  practical  good  sense,  and 
possesses  many  qualifications  desirable  in  a  law-maker.  He 
bids  fair  to  make  an  excellent  record.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Committees  on  Cities,  and  State  Charitable  Institutions. 


AUGUSTUS  HILL. 


Mr.  HILL,  the  somewhat  magisterial  looking  gentleman 
from  Greene  county,  is  one  of  those  quiet,  unimpressible 
persons,  who  give  little  indication  of  their  real  character  to 
those  who  are  unfamiliar  with  them.  He  is,  nevertheless,  a 
man  of  marked  personal  characteristics  and  possesses  more 
legislative  ability,  perhaps,  than  many  whose  pretensions 
are  much  greater.  Personally  and  socially  he  is  genial, 
courteous  and  frank,  a  firm  friend  and  an  agreeable  com- 
panion, while,  as  a  politician,  he  is  firm  in  his  views  and 
faithful  in  his  party  allegiance1,  but  never  obtrusive  in  the 
expression  of  his  opinions,  which,  however,  are  not  con- 
trolled by  party  action,  where  such  control  would  destroy 
his  independence  of  spirit  or  violate  his  own  convictions  of 
right  and  wrong.  He  is  a  man  somewhat  under  the  medium 
height,  Avith  a  sharp,  grey  eye,  a  benevolent  cast  of  counte- 
nance, and  profusely  whitened  hair  and  goatee.  He  was 
born  in  Waterbnry,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1816,  and  is,  there- 
fore, about  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  His  father,  HARVEY 
HILL,  was  of  English  descent,  and  died  in  1843,  at  the  age 
of  54.  His  mother  is  still  living  at  the  advanced  age  of  88. 
When  eight  years  old,  young  HILL  came  with  his  parents  to 
Durham,  Greene  county,  and  six  years  later  moved  to  Cairo, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  also  in  what  were  then  known  as  select 
schools.  Subsequently  he  studied  law  in  the  office  of  P.  C. 
MATTOOX.  at  Cairo,  and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1856, 


AUGUSTUS  HILL.  227 

he  soon  afterward  commenced  practicing  as  a  lawyer,  and  is 
still  a  member  of  that  profession. 

He  has  always  been  a  leading  Democrat  of  Greene  county, 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  but  has  never  been 
particularly  anxious  for  public  position.  Some  twenty-two 
years  ago,  however,  he  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
his  town,  and  he  has  held  that  responsible  and  honorable 
office  ever  since,  to  the  entire  satisfaction,  we  believe,  of 
everybody  interested. 

When  the  rebellion  broke  out  he  took  strong  ground  in 
favor  of  supporting  the  administration  and  vigorously  prose- 
cuting the  war.  He  addressed  the  first  war  meeting  held  in 
his  town,  and  throughout  the  entire  struggle  he  was  active 
in  behalf  of  the  Union  cause.  At  first  he  incurred  consid- 
erable odium  among  members  of  his  party  because  of  his 
course,  but  the  stern  logic  of  events  fully  vindicated  his  action, 
and  much  of  his  present  popularity  is  undoubtedly  due  to 
his  war  record. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a 
majority  of  355,  and  he  served  very  acceptably  in  the  last 
Legislature  as  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Railroads, 
Roads  and  Bridges,  and  Sub-Committee  of  the  Whole.  He 
was  elected  to  the  present  House  by  a  majority  of  780,  over 
HEZEKIAH  BALDWIN,  Republican.  This  year  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committees  on  Civil  Divisions,  and  Roads  and 
Bridges. 


228  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JOHN  BLAKE  HILLYER. 


Mr.  HILLYER  is  the  very  capable  representative  of  Rich- 
mond county  in  the  present  House.  His  parents  were  both 
of  American  birth,  and  resided  in  Richmond  county  until 
the  close  of  their  lives.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  his  father 
and  grandfather  each  in  his  day  filled  the  office  of  Sheriff  of 
that  county. 

Mr.  HILLYER  was  born  in  the  county  he  now  represents 
on  the  18th  of  October,  1818,  and  is  therefore  pretty  well 
advanced  in  life.  He  received  an  ordinary  common  school 
education  in  the  town  of  Xorthfield,  where  his  parents 
resided.  After  reaching  his  majority  he  became  engaged  in 
mercantile  business  and  manufacturing,  which  lie  followed 
for  a  number  of  years.  Finally  he  purchased  a  farm,  and  he 
may  now  be  classed  as  a  successful  agriculturist  and  fruit 
grower. 

Mr.  HILLYER  is  a  plain  and  unassuming  citizen,  but  he 
possesses  solid  worth  and  probity  in  very  large  measure, 
and  faithfully  watches  over  the  interests  of  his  constituents 
in  the  Assembly.  He  has  been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the 
past  twelve  years  and  Justice  of  Sessions  for  nearly  the  same 
length  of  time,  while  he  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors  of  Richmond  county.  He  has  been  active  in 
politics  since  early  youth,  having  been  a  Whig  until  the  dis- 
ruption of  the  party,  and  since  that  date  a  thorough-going 
reliable  Republican.  He  \vas  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a 
majority  of  34?  over  SAMUEL  R.  BUCK,  his  Democratic 
opponent,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Public 
Health,  and  Federal  Relations. 


JOHN  D.  HILLER.  229 


JOHN  D.  HILLER. 


Mr.  HILLER,  of  Chautauqua,  is  one  of  the  new  members. 
He  is  a  fine-looking  man,  about  forty  years  of  age,  with  dark 
hair,  full  beard,  well-proportioned  form,  and  frank,  ex- 
pressive features.  His  presence  conveys  the  impression  to 
those  who  know  him  for  the  first  time  that  he  has  sufficient 
brains  and  capacity  for  almost  any  position  in  life,  and  it  is 
but  just  to  say  that  a  closer  acquaintance  confirms  the  im- 
pression. 

He  was  born  at  Smith's  Mills,  Chautauqua  county,  where 
he  still  resides.  His  father,  JOHN  I.  HILLER,  was  a  native 
of  Schoharie  county,  but  removed  to  Chautauqua  county  in 
1828.  and  died  there  a  couple  of  years  ago,  at  the  ripe  age  of 
seventy.  Mr.  HILLER  laid  the  foundation  of  his  education 
in  the  common  schools,  spending,  however,  one  year  at  the 
Fredonia  Academy.  Subsequently  he  entered  the  State  Nor- 
mal school  at  Albany,  and  after  accomplishing  the  entire 
course  at  that  institution,  graduated  with  credit  in  1855. 
Being  well  qualified  for  teaching  he  spent  one  year  in  charge 
of  a  department  in  Canandaigua  Academy,  and  also  taught 
two  years  in  the  district  schools ;  but  teaching  was  not  pre- 
cisely to  his  taste  and  he  entered  mercantile  life.  Since 
1858  he  has  managed  a  country  store  at  Smith's  Mills  with 
fair  success.  In  1857  he  married  LIBBIE  M.  SMITH,  a 
daughter  of  RODXEY  M.  SMITH,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Chautauqua  county. 

Mr.  HILLER  held  the  office  of  Clerk  of  the  town  of  Han- 
over during  the  years  1864  and  1865,  and  in  1868  and  1869 
he  served  in  the  Chautauqua  Board  of  Supervisors.  AVhile 
the  rebellion  raged  in  the  South,  he  warmly  sympathized 
with  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  though  not  himself  liable 
to  military  duty,  he  furnished  a  representative  recruit  at  a 
time  when  men  were  greatelv  needed.  He  has  been  a  Re- 


230  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

publican  since  the  formation  of  the  party,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  the  political  movements  of  the 
day.  Though  not  a  strict  churchman,  Mr.  HILLEE  is  a  man 
of  correct  life,  large  heart  and  generous  impulses,  and 
thoroughly  in  earnest.  His  convictions  are  deeply-rooted  and 
decided,  and  his  influence  and  votes  are  invariably  on  the 
side  of  right  and  justice.  As  yet  he  has  developed  no  es- 
pecial penchant  for  oratory  on  the  floor  of  the  Assembly,  but 
he  is  able  to  talk  and  to  talk  well  when  the  occasion  arises. 


EDMUND  W.  HOLLISTER. 


Mr.  HOLLISTER  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  first  district  of  Washington  county,  having 
served  his  constituents  faithfully  in  the  last  House  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committees  on  Canals,  and  on  Charitable  and 
Religious  Societies.  He  is  not  a  man  who  seeks  to  obtrude 
himself  much  upon  public  notice,  or  to  render  himself  promi- 
nent in  any  way.  He  prefers  to  perform  his  duty  quietly, 
thoroughly  and  unostentatiously,  and  so  as  to  win  the  appro- 
val of  his  conscience  as  well  as  the  satisfaction  of  his  con- 
stituents. He  is  somewhat  above  the  medium  height,  with 
florid  complexion,  brown  whiskers,  and  mild,  intelligent  eye. 
His  frame  is  rather  loosely  knit,  though  it  is  evidently  tough 
and  muscular ;  and  judging  from  his  daily  intercourse  among 
his  friends  and  acquaintances,  a  heart  imbued  with  more  than 
ordinary  kindness  and  generosity  throbs  underneath  the 
rough  exterior  of  the  man. 

Mr.  HOLLISTER  was  born  in  the  town  of  Chatham,  Colum- 
bia county,  in  July,  1827,  and  is  consequently  nearly  forty- 
six  years  of  age.  His  father,  SYLVAXUS  HOLLISTER,  now 
deceased,  was  also  born  in  Chatham  in  1797.  Mr.  H. 
received  a  liberal  education  at  the  Schuylerville  and  Union 
Village  academies,  and  was  brought  up  as  a  farmer,  an  occu- 


JAMES  W.  HUSTED.  231 

pation  which  he  has  since  followed  more  or  less  up  to  the 
present  time,  though  much  of  his  attention  is  now  devoted 
to  the  buying  and  selling  of  country  produce. 

Always  an  active  Republican,  Mr.  HOLLISTER  has  inva- 
riably taken  mach  interest  in  party  movements,  and  has  for 
a  number  of  years  been  known  as  one  of  the  best  men  of 
his  party  in  Washington  county.  He  never  held  office, 
however,  until  1868,  when  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the 
town  of  Easton,  and  served  two  years  with  credit.  In  1871 
he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  1,422,  and 
re-elected  last  fall  by  a  majority  of  1,528,  his  opponent  being 
R.  W.  LOWBER,  a  popular  and  well-known  Democrat.  He  is 
now  serving  acceptably  on  the  Committees  on  Canals,  and 
Roads  and  Bridges,  and  is  making  for  himself  an  excellent 
record. 

He  was  married  on  the  27th  of  February,  1873,  to  Miss 
JULIA  F.  McMuLLEN. 


JAMES  W.  HUSTED. 

Although  now  serving  his  fifth  term  as  member  of 
Assembly,  Gen.  HUSTED  admirably  retains  his  pre-eminence 
among  legislators  for  brilliancy  of  intellect,  quickness  of  per- 
ception, and,  we  may  add,  oratorical  excellence.  His  dash- 
ing, off-hand  style  of  debate,  and  the  lightning-like  rapidity 
with  which  he  grasps  the  situation  of  the  moment,  together 
with  his  bold,  concise  and  incisive  mode  of  argument,  and 
sometimes  startling  readiness  at  repartee,  render  him  a 
formidable  opponent.  He  is  master  of  the  art  of  sarcasm, 
and,  as  he  usually  veils  his  keen  and  merciless  retorts  in 
elegant  language  and  apt  classical  allusion,  the  wounds 
made  by  his  sharp  thrusts  produce  more  pleasure  than  pain. 
In  the  most  exciting  passages  of  partisan  debate,  Mr. 
HUSTED  is  ever  the  pink  of  courtesy  and  coolness,  while  in 


232  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

argument  he  is  clear,  connected  and  logical,  his  more  ambi- 
tious speeches  being  frequently  enriched  with  pointed  anec- 
dote and  scholarly  illustration.  He  speaks  very  rapidly,  and 
has  surprising  command  of  language,  while  his  thorough 
knowledge  of  parliamentary  rules  enables  him  to  be  perfectly 
at  home  in  the  most  bewildering  cross-fire  of  motions  and 
counter-motions  characteristic  of  legislative  filibustering 
and  bushwhacking. 

Gen.  HUSTED'S  ancestors  were  of  marked  honesty  and 
respectability,  and  belonged  originally  to  the  old  Whig  party. 
He  was  born  in  Bedford,  in  this  State,  October  31,  1833. 
The  incidents  of  his  boyhood  were  not  specially  remarkable. 
He  prepared  for  college  at  the  Bedford  Academy,  in  his  native 
town,  and  at  quite  an  early  age  he  entered  Yale  College, 
from  which  he  graduated  on  reaching  his  majority  in  1854. 
While  in  college  he  stood  well  with  his  class,  and  was  com- 
plimented with  University  honors  when  he  graduated.  Sub- 
sequently he  studied  law  with  EDWARD  WELLS,  of  Peekskill, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1857.  As  a  lawyer  he  pos- 
sesses fine  abilities,  and  is  regarded  with  confidence  and 
respect, 

As  a  politician  Gen.  HUSTED'S  life  has  been  somewhat 
varied  and  not  entirely  devoid  of  vicissitudes.  He  started 
as  a  Know-Nothing,  and  for  two  years  was  Secretary  of  the 
American  State  Council.  He  was  elected  Town  Superin- 
tendent of  Common  Schools,  in  1855,  on  the  KnoAv-Nothing 
ticket,  and  in  1858  he  was  chosen  by  the  same  party  as  one 
of  the  School  Commissioners  of  Westchester  county.  But 
in  1859  the  test  of  a  man's  "  Americanism"  being  a  willing- 
ness to  "  plough  with  a  Democratic  heifer,"  Mr.  HUSTED  pro- 
tested against  a  betrayal  of  the  principles  upon  which  the 
party  was  founded.  During  the  Utica  Convention,  held  in 
that  year,  when  the  "  Hybrid  "  ticket  was  formed,  he  pub- 
lished a  protest  against  it  and  left  the  organization,  joining 
the  Republican  party.  In  1860  he  was  appointed  Deputy 
Superintendent  of  the  State  Insurance  Department  by  Hon. 


JAMES  W.  HUSTED.  233 

WILLIAM  BARNES,  the  then  Superintendent.  Since  1862  he 
has  been  Harbor  Master  of  the  city  of  New  York,  and,  until 
recently,  was  Deputy  Captain  of  the  Port. 

In  the  fall  of  1868  Mr.  HUSTED  was  elected  to  the  Assem- 
bly from  the  Third  district  of  Westchester  county  by  307 
majority.  He  made  an  honorable  record  as  a  debater  and  as 
a  legislator  during  his  first  session,  being  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Federal  Relations,  and  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Commerce  and  Navigation.  The  next  year  he  was 
re-elected  by  1,144  majority,  running  837  ahead  of  his  ticket, 
and  417  ahead  in  his  own  town.  Since  then  he  has  been 
regularly  re-elected,  his  majority  in  1871  reaching  the  unpre- 
cedented figure  of  1,509.  Last  year,  owing  to  local  compli- 
cations and  the  defection  of  Liberal  Republicans,  it  Avas 
reduced  to  502.  He  has  served  during  the  last  three  terms 
on  the  Committees  on  Commerce  and  Navigation,  Ways  and 
Means,  Grievances,  Local  and  Special  Legislation,  and  Fed- 
eral Relations,  being  again  Chairman  of  the  latter  Committee 
iu  1872.  In  the  present  session  he  is  Chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Education,  and  member  of  the  Ways  and  Means. 

Gen.  HUSTED  has  been  frequently  honored  with  respon- 
sible positions  by  the  party  to  which  he  belongs,  and  he  in 
turn  has  honored  the  party  with  his  best  efforts,  but  his 
sphere  of  useful  activity  has  not  been  confined  to  politics. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Masonic 
Fraternity  in  the  State,  and  has  reached  to  the  highest  honors 
in  the  order,  being  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Knights  Templar, 
and  entitled  to  wear  the  jewel  of  the  33d  degree.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  has  held  the  rank  of  D.  D.  G.  M.,  and  is  now 
Junior  Grand  Warden.  He  has  also  been  Judge  Advocate  on 
the  staff  of  the  Seventh  Brigade,  New  York  State  Militia. 

On  March  26th,  of  the  present  year,  he  was  nominated  by 
Gov.  Dix  to  be  Major-General  of  the  Fifth  Division  of  the 
National  Guard,  in  place  of  Gen.  GATES  who  had  resigned, 
and  he  was  immediately  confirmed  by  the  Senate.  The 
appointment  was  universally  recognized  as  an  eminently  fit 


234  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

one,  and  none  were  more  hearty  in  their  congratulations 
than  his  fellow  members  of  the  Assembly.  On  the  evening 
after  the  announcement  of  his  appointment,  Mr.  McGuiKE, 
of  Schuyler,  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted : 

Resolved,  That  always  feeling  a  deep  interest  in  the  per- 
sonal and  official  relations  of  our  fellow  members,  and  a 
warm  regard  for  them  individually,  we  desire  to  express  our 
heart-felt  thanks  to  Gov.  Dix  for  his  promotion  of  the  Hon. 
JAMES  W.  HUSTED  to  the  command  of  the  military  forces  of 
the  Fifth  Division,  and  that  as  he  has  been  first  in  peace,  we 
know  he  will,  in  the  event  of  a  great  military  necessity,  be 
first  in  war,  and  in  the  future  first  in  the  hearts  of  his 
countrymen. 

Socially,  Gen.  HUSTED  possesses  rare  gifts.  Genial  and 
talented,  a  brilliant  conversationalist,  and  an  adept  in  all  the 
accomplishments  and  qualities  which  constitute  the  gentle- 
man, he  is  peculiarly  fitted  to  ornament  society  and  win 
friendship  and  esteem.  His  unaffected  manners  and  sterling 
qualities  have  rendered  him  extremely  popular  with  the 
people  at  large,  while  the  same  traits,  in  connection  with  his 
solid  attainments,  have  secured  him  hosts  of  friends  in  the 
field  of  letters  and  politics. 


JOHN  C.  JACOBS. 


Mr.  JACOBS,  the  able  and  popular  representative  of  the 
Ninth  district  of  Kings  county,  bears  the  honored  title  of 
"Father  of  the  House,"  being,  in  point  of  consecutive  ser- 
vice, the  oldest  member  of  the  present  Assembly.  He  is  far 
from  being  the  oldest  in  years,  however,  and  is  youthful 
enough  to  be  one  of  the  most  shrewd  and  active  members  of 
the  opposition. 

He  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Penn.,  on  the  10th  of 
December,  1838,  and  is,  therefore,  now  in  the  thirty-fourth 


JOHN  C.  JACOBS.  235 

year  of  his  age.  His  paternal  ancestors  were  of  the  old  New 
England  Revolutionary  stock,  and  several  of  them  partici- 
pated with  honor  iu  the  memorable  struggle  for  independ- 
ence. Mr.  JACOBS'  mother  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  of  German  origin,  one  of  her  progenitors  having  held  a 
high  position  under  Frederick  the  Great  of  Prussia. 

When  Mr.  JACOBS  was  quite  young  his  parents  removed  to 
Brooklyn,  and  he  was  placed  in  a  select  school  as  soon  as  he 
had  reached  a  sufficient  age.  The  family  removed  to  Phila- 
delphia a  few  years  later,  and  his  school  studies  may  be  said 
to  have  closed  when  he  attained  the  age  of  twelve.  He  was, 
nevertheless,  able  to  turn  every  opportunity  of  obtaining 
knowledge  to  account,  and  the  loss  occasioned  by  the  check 
thus  given  to  his  educational  progress,  is  not  as  apparent  as 
it  might  be  in  a  duller  man.  Returning  to  Brooklyn,  after 
a  year's  stay  in  Philadelphia,  he  entered  a  lawyer's  office  as  a 
messenger  boy.  The  drudgery  there  required  of  him  was 
very  repugnant  to  his  somewhat  high-strung  nature,  however, 
and  he  left  it  after  a  short  experience,  and  sought  and 
obtained  a  position  as  copy-holder  in  the  large  printing 
establishment  of  JOHN  A.  GRAY  &  Co.,  New  York.  A 
large  number  of  journals  being  issued  from  the  establish- 
ment, Mr.  JACOBS  naturally  came  in  contact  with  many 
newspaper  men,  and  he  soon  developed  a  taste  for  journal- 
istic life.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  a  reporter  for  the 
New  York  Express.  He  showed  great  aptitude  and  ability 
in  the  arduous  duties  belonging  to  the  life  he  had  now 
entered,  and  he  was  gradually  promoted  on  the  Express  staff, 
until  he  was  given  charge  of  the  political  news  columns.  In 
1S5(J  he  became  correspondent  of  the  same  paper  at  Albany, 
remaining  with  it  until  1865,  when,  in  the  same  capacity,  he 
represented  the  New  York  World.  He  also  won  distinction 
as  a  war  correspondent,  volunteering  in  1862  to  accompany 
McCLELLAx's  army  to  the  Peninsula.  Becoming  attached 
to  the  1st  New  York  Volunteers,  then  in  KEARNEY'S 
division,  he  had  a  chance  to  see  and  participate  in  some  of 


236  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

the  hardest  fighting  of  the  war.  His  account  of  the  evacua- 
tion of  Harrison's  Landing,  and  the  march  to  Yorktown, 
which  he  sent  to  the  Express,  was  extensively  copied  by  the 
press  throughout  the  country. 

Mr.  JACOBS  began  his  political  life  when  a  mere  boy.  In 
1851,  though  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  was  active  in  his 
opposition  to  FREMONT'S  election.  In  1860  he  was  well 
known  in  Brooklyn  us  a  leader  among  the  young  men  who 
combined  against  the  LINCOLN  ticket.  In  1863  he  received 
the  regular  Democratic  nomination  for  Assembly  against 
JOHN  C.  PERRY,  Republican  and  present  Senator ;  THEOPHI- 
LUS  C.  CALLICOTT  ran  as  an  Independent  Democratic  candi- 
date, however,  and  the  split  thereby  occasioned  defeated  him. 
In  1865  he  also  ran.  being  again  defeated  by  WILLIAM  W. 
GOODRICH,  after  an  unusually  spirited  contest.  Mr.  JACOBS' 
friends  insisted  that  he  should  run  again  in  1866,  and  the 
Democratic  Convention  nominated  him  by  acclamation.  A 
strong  effort  was  made  by  the  Republicans  to  defeat  him.  but 
the  plucky  young  journalist  was  successful  this  time  by  900 
majority.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  regularly  returned 
annually,  his  majority  being  usually  larger  than  the  State 
ticket  received. 

In  1869  he  served  on  the  Committee  on  Commerce  and 
Navigation  and  on  several  special  committees.  In  1870  he 
was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  and  a 
member  of  the  Committees  on  Insurance,  and  Grievances. 
In  1871  he  was  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Grievances, 
Judiciary,  and  Ways  and  Means,  and  Chairman  of  the  latter. 
In  1872  he  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and 
Means,  and  Petitions  of  Aliens ;  and  in  the  present  House 
he  is  a  member  of  Ways  and  Means,  Insurance,  and  Rules. 
During  the  last  session  Mr.  JACOBS  was  honored  by  being 
chosen  as  one  of  the  managers  to  conduct  the  trials  of  Judges 
BARNARD  and  McCuNN.  In  the  years  when  the  Democrats 
held  the  majority  in  the  House  Mr.  JACOBS  displayed  great 
effectiveness  as  a  leader  and  party  manager,  winning  deserved 


JOHN  C.  JACOBS.  237 

repute  for  his  readiness  and  ability  in  debate,  his  tireless 
activity  and  his  dauntless  courage  in  battling  for  political 
principles.  Two  or  three  times  he  has  been  a  candidate  for 
the  Speakership,  but  in  the  year  when  the  party  majority  was 
with  him,  the  Tammany  interest  of  New  York  city,  with 
which  he  was  not  always  in  entire  accord,  succeeded  in 
defeating  him.  He  was  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic 
minority  for  the  position  in  the  last  session,  and  also  in  the 
present  one,  receiving  the  entire  vote  of  his  party.  Inas- 
much as  he  possesses  peculiar  qualifications  for  the  post  of 
presiding  officer,  and  is  thoroughly  versed  in  parliamentary 
law,  the  compliment  thus  twice  given  him  has  been  in  every 
way  deserved. 

Mr.  JACOBS  is  a  great  favorite  among  all  his  friends,  and 
is  in  every  respect  a  genial,  true-hearted  gentleman.  Though 
he  is  an  ardent  and  active  partisan,  there  is  yet  a  courteous- 
ness  of  manner  and  a  frankness  of  language  in  all  his  politi- 
cal endeavors,  which  invariably  extorts  admiration  and 
respect  from  his  most  decided  opponents.  He  is  a  man  of 
large  heart  and  warm  sympathies  to  his  friends,  and  gener- 
ous to  his  foes,  very  few  of  the  latter  being  such  in  other 
than  a  political  sense.  In  legislative  matters  he  devotes  the 
largest  share  of  his  attention  to  local  matters,  but  his  ring- 
ing voice  is  often  heard,  also,  in  defense  of  party  policy,  and 
in  denunciation  of  Republican  measures  and  schemes.  He 
is  very  fluent  in  debate,  occasionally  rising  to  heights  of  ora- 
torical eloquence  rarely  attained  by  a  party  speaker,  and  he 
never  fails  to  command  the  attention  of  the  House,  when 
once  warmed  up  with  his  subject.  He  unquestionably 
stands  in  this  session  among  the  foremost  members  of  a 
minority  which  includes  an  unusual  number  of  very  able 
men. 


238  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


WILLAKD  JOHNSON. 


Mr.  JOHNSON  is  of  New  England  parentage,  his  father, 
LOWELL  JOHNSON,  having  been  a  native  of  Vermont,  while 
his  mother  was  born  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Volney,  Oswego  county,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1830. 
He  attended  common  school  at  an  early  age,  and  subsequently 
went  to  the  Mexico  and  Cazenovia  academies,  thus  securing 
an  excellent  education.  In  the  year  1852,  he  engaged  in  the 
lake  and  canal  transportation  business  at  Fulton,  and  con- 
tinued it  successfully  for  about  twelve  years.  Afterward  he 
became  a  contractor  and  has  completed  several  important 
works  for  the  State  and  national  governments,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  the  improvement  of  the  Mississippi  river 
at  Eock  Island,  and  the  construction  of  a  lock  in  the  Illinois 
river,  which  is  probably  the  largest  in  the  world,  being  350 
feet  long,  75  feet  wide,  and  30  feet  high,  and  capable  of 
accommodating  twelve  ordinary  canal  boats  at  once.  He  has 
successfully  completed  contracts  which  amount,  in  the  aggre- 
gate, to  fully  five  millions  of  dollars. 

Mr.  JOHNSON  has  always  been  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school, 
and  for  many  years  he  has  been  prominent  in  the  councils  of 
that  party.  During  the  rebellion  he  was  classed  as  a  War 
Democrat,  and  gave  his  influence  and  means  freely  to  the 
cause  of  the  Union.  In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly 
without  opposition,  and  co-operated  heartily  in  all  the  meas- 
ures designed  to  sustain  the  national  government  in  the  con- 
test which  it  was  then  waging  against  armed  treason.  Sub- 
sequently he  served  two  years  on  the  War  Committee  of 
Oswego  county.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  in  the  years  1861  and  1862.  In  1860  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  memorable  Charleston  Convention,  and  was 
afterward  also  a  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic  Con- 
ventions at  Chicago  in  1864,  in  New  York  in  1868,  and  in 


ELEAZER  JONES.  239 

Baltimore  in  1872.  During  the  five  war  years,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  State  Committee.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that 
Mr.  JOHNSON'S  political  experience  is  extensive  and  varied, 
and  there  are  really  few  men  in  Central  New  York  whose 
counsel  is  held  in  greater  estimation.  He  still  holds  to  the 
political  creed  of  his  earlier  years,  and  is  very  popular  among 
the  Democrats  of  Oswego,  and,  indeed,  among  men  of  all 
parties.  This  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  was  elected  last  fall 
by  a  majority  of  189,  over  THOMAS  W.  GREEN".  Republican, 
who  represented  the  district  last  year.  He  is  a  man  of  mod- 
est, unassuming  deportment,  and  seldom  addresses  the  House, 
being  a  man  who  believes  in  actions  rather  than  words.  His 
large  experience,  ripe  judgment  and  active  mind  are  of  great 
value,  however,  in  the  practical  work  of  legislation,  and  his 
seat  is  seldom  unoccupied  during  the  sessions.  He  was 
married  at  the  age  of  27  to  MARY  GASPE,  and  as  a  result  of 
his  prudently  managed  business  operations  he  is  quite 
wealthy. 

ELEAZER   JONES. 


Although  Mr.  JONES  has  been  removed  by  death  from  his 
legislative  duties,  and  can,  therefore,  be  no  longer  numbered 
among  the  members  of  the  Assembly,  a  brief  sketch  of  his 
career  will  not,  perhaps,  be  out  of  place.  He  was  born  in 
Beddgelert,  Wales,  in  the  year  1824,  and  after  receiving  a 
thorough  education  at  one  of  the  Beddgelert  private  schools 
and  at  the  Academy  of  Dr.  Robert,  at  Holyhead,  he  left  Wales 
and  started  in  business  as  a  general  passenger  broker  and 
commission  agent  in  Liverpool,  and  met  with  great  success. 
In  18r>2  he  came  to  this  country  and  was  appointed  by 
Messrs.  WEED  &  MABY  as  manager  of  the  Emigrant  Depart- 
ment of  the  Xew  York  and  Erie  Railway.  In  that  capacity 
he  returned  to  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  armed  with  author- 
ity to  establish  agencies  at  all  the  seaports,  important  cities 


240  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

and  inland  towns.  During  the  years  1854  and  1855  he  made 
several  trips  across  the  Atlantic  in  the  performance  of  his 
duties,  occupying  the  intervals  in  extended  tours  through 
the  United  States  for  the  double  object  of  gaining  relaxation 
and  information.  During  one  of  these  excursions  he  pur- 
chased a  joint  interest  with  his  brother  and  nephew  in  the 
slate  property  at  Middle  Granville,  Washington  county,  then 
operated  by  his  brother,  who  had  emigrated  to  this  country 
in  1845.  In  1856  he  disposed  of  the  Erie  agency  and  trans- 
ferred his  family  to  New  York.  He  then  applied  himself 
with  energy  to  the  development  of  the  slate  quarry,  which 
promised  in  time  to  be  quite  profitable.  In  1860,  however, 
he  was  induced  to  accept  the  general  agency  for  this 
country  of  the  Passage  Department  of  the  Montreal  Steam- 
ship line,  which  he  retained  for  about  five  years.  In  1866 
the  Penrhyn  Slate  Company  was  organized,  and  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  actively  engaged  in  its  management. 
To  his  exertions  is  largely  due  the  fact  that  the  establish- 
ment is  now  probably  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind  in  the 
United  States.  Since  he  became  a  citizen  of  this  country, 
Mr.  JOXES  has  always  been  an  active  Republican,  and  when 
he  became  well  established  at  Granville  it  was  not  long 
before  he  was  prominently  identified  with  local  and  county 
political  movements.  His  business  prominence  and  shrewd- 
ness of  character  rendered  him  a  desirable  accession  to  those 
who  run  the  party  machine,  and  he  soon  secured  confidence 
and  esteem.  In  1870  he  was  elected  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  the  town  of  Granville,  and  filled  the  office  satisfactorily. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  the  Democratic  District  Convention 
tendered  him  a  nomination  for  the  Assembly,  which  he 
respectfully  declined,  and  last  fall  he  received  the  unsolicited 
nomination  of  the  Republican  Convention  for  the  same 
office,  and  was  triumphantly  elected,  receiving  a  majority  of 
780. 

Though  Mr.  JONES  spent  but  a  brief  time  in  the  halls  of 
legislation,  the  members,  one  and  all,  had  begun  to  regard 


ARCHIBALD  KENNEDY.  241 

him  as  a  quiet,  active,  conscientious  and  courteous  gentle- 
man, one  who  gave  ample  promise  of  becoming  n  capable, 
efficient  law-maker,  and  his  sudden  death  evoked  sincere 
expressions  of  regret.  His  death,  which  was  the  result  of 
a  severe  cold  contracted  at  Albany,  occurred  on  the  10th  of 
February. 


ARCHIBALD  KENNEDY. 

Mr.  KENNEDY  is  serving  his  second  term  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  Livingston  county.  Born  in  York,  in  that 
county,  he  has  been  identified  during  his  whole  life  with  the 
interests  of  that  locality,  and  is,  perhaps,  better  acquainted 
with  its  needs  than  any  other  resident.  He  was  the  son  of 
ARCHIBALD  KENNEDY,  a  native  of  Eannoch,  Scotland,  who 
died  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  Mr.  KENNEDY  is 
Avell  educated,  having  passed  through  the  general  course  of 
study  in  Geneseo  Academy  and  Lima  Seminary.  In  addi- 
tion to  these  opportunities,  extensive  reading  at  home  has 
rendered  him  thoroughly  well  informed  upon  every  subject. 
Though  he  makes  no  special  pretension  to  oratorical  powers, 
he  is  a  good  speaker,  and,  when  occasion  requires,  he 
expresses  his  views  in  a  plain  and  logical,  and,  at  times, 
forcible  and  eloquent  manner.  He  is  fully  alive  to  the 
importance  of  fostering  the  educational  interests  of  the 
State,  though,  even  in  this  direction,  lie  studies  economy  in 
the  use  of  the  public  funds.  His  views,  in  reference  to  popu- 
lar education,  are  broad  and  liberal.  He  believes  in  adopt- 
ing the  most  effective  mode  of  educating  the  masses,  and,  as 
a  means  to  this  end,  he  is  the  warm  friend  of  every  measure 
likely  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  common  schools. 

Mr.  KENNEDY  is  a  plain  and  prosperous  Livingston  county 

farmer.     Since  1853,  however,  he  has  almost  constantly  been 

the  incumbent    of  some    responsible   official   position,  and 

much  of  his  time  is  occupied  in  settling  estates.     In  1853  he 

10 


242  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

was  elected  Town  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools  and 
served  four  years.  He  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  from  1856 
to  1868,  and  was  then  elected  Supervisor,  serving  three  years, 
the  last  as  Chairman  of  the  Board.  In  1869  he  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Eepublican  State  Convention  from  Livingston 
county.  Finally,  in  1871,  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly, 
defeating  ANDREW  SILL,  the  Democratic  candidate,  by  a 
majority  of  889.  His  service  last  winter  was  so  satisfactory 
to  the  people  of  the  county  that  he  was  returned  to  the  pres- 
ent House  by  the  immense  majority  of  1,221  over  C.  W. 
GIBSON.  He  is  an  energetic  and  capable  member  of  two 
important  Committees,  Ways  and  Means,  and  Public  Print- 
ing. 

Mr.  KENNEDY  has  always  been  a  Eepublican,  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  the  party  in  Livingston  county. 
Always  straight-forward  and  reliable,  he  is  also  a  man  of 
stern  and  unyielding  integrity,  and  is  as  strong  in  his  oppo- 
sition to  those  measures  which  contemplate  inroads  upon  the 
public  treasury,  as  he  is  earnest  in  the  advocacy  of  legislation 
designed  to  effect  genuine  reform  in  State  and  local  govern- 
ments. He  was  married  to  CATHARINE  MCMARTIN  on  the 
17th  of  April,  1856. 


ANSON  W.  KNETTLES. 


Mr.  KNETTLES,  who  is  entitled  to  whatever  distinction 
may  attach  to  the  fact  that  he  is  the  tallest  man  in  the 
House,  was  born  in  South  Lansing,  Tompkins  county, 
August  7,  1824.  His  parents  came  to  this  State  from  Penn- 
sylvania when  quite  young.  He  received  a  good  education 
at  the  Aurora  Academy,  but  on  reaching  mature  years  he 
continued  to  pursue  the  occupation  of  his  father,  that  of  a 
farmer,  in  which  he  is  still  successfully  engaged.  He  has, 
however,  spent  much  of  his  time  in  the  service  of  his 


ANSON  W.  K NETTLES.  243 

country,  and  has  also  held  a  number  of  positions  of  trust 
in  his  town  and  county.  During  three  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Tompkins  county, 
representing  the  town  of  Lansing,  and  one  year  was  Chair- 
man of  the  Board.  Shortly  after  the  war  broke  out  he 
assisted  in  raising  the  109th  Regiment,  New  York  Volun- 
teers, and  on  the  organization  of  the  regiment  in  July, 
1862,  he  was  commissioned  as  Captain  of  Company  G.  In 
that  capacity  he  participated  in  most  of  the  hard  fighting 
which  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  from  the 
summer  of  1862  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  passed  un- 
scathed through  the  terrible  campaign  of  1864,  from  Wash- 
ington to  Petersburg,  but  was  wounded  in  the  memorable 
siege  of  the  latter  city.  While  acting  as  Brigade  Officer  of 
the  Day  he  received  a  rifle  ball  above  the  right  eye,  cutting 
out  the  eye  and  passing  entirely  through  the  head  and  out 
of  the  left  side,  injuring  somewhat  the  sight  of  the  left  eye. 
It  was  certainly  a  narrow  escape  from  death,  and  though  his 
countenance  is  somewhat  disfigured  by  the  rebel  bullet,  it 
constitutes  an  honorable  memento  of  the  scenes  in  which  he 
was  a  prominent  actor. 

Mr.  KNETTLES  was  a  Democrat  until  1855,  but  since  that 
year  he  has  uniformly  acted  with  the  Republicans  and  taken 
quite  a  prominent  part  in  the  local  politics  of  his  county. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  House  last  year,  and  made  a  good 
record  as  a  member  of  two  important  Committees,  Canals, 
and  Militia.  His  majority  in  1871  was  1,273.  Last  fall,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  a  Liberal  Republican  ran  against 
him,  his  majority  was  513.  In  the  present  session  he  serves 
on  the  Committees  on  Canals,  and  \rillages. 

Mr.  K.  is  a  man  standing  over  six  feet  in  height,  somewhat 
slender,  with  light  brown  hair  and  somewhat  florid  complex- 
ion. Though  not  a  speech-maker,  he  is  a  very  active  man 
and  possesses  a  great  deal  of  the  practical  abilitv  essential  to 
the  legislator. 


244  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JEROME  B.  LANDFIELD. 


Mr.  LANDFIELD'S  father,  CLARK  LANDFIELD,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Harvard,  Delaware  county,  and  there,  also, 
the  son  first  saw  the  light,  in  November,  1827.  He  was 
educated  at  Delhi  Academy,  and  also  in  the  Delaware  Insti- 
tute, at  Franklin,  and  on  reaching  years  of  maturity,  he 
entered  a  mercantile  business  at  Harvard.  Several  years 
since  he  removed  to  Newark  Valley,  where  he  is  now  success- 
fully engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  managing  besides  an 
extensive  tannery.  He  is  also  postmaster  of  that  town,  and 
a  member  of  the  Tioga  Board  of  Supervisors. 

In  1864,  he  represented  Delaware  county  in  the  Assembly, 
serving  on  the  Committee  on  Affairs  of  Villages,  and  making 
a  creditable  record.  He  was  elected  to  the  present  House 
by  a  majority  of  711,  and  serves  acceptably  on  the  Com- 
mittees on  Railroads,  and  Trade  and  Manufactures. 

Mr.  LAXDFIELD  was  a  Whig  until  the  party  dissolved,  and 
since  then  he  has  been  an  unyielding  Republican.  He  is  a 
man  of  great  probity  of  character,  and  greatly  respected  in 
Newark  Valley,  where  he  resides. 


WILLIAM  LEWIS,  JR.  245 

WILLIAM  LEWIS,  JR. 


Mr.  LEWIS,  now  serving  his  second  term  in  the  Assembly, 
is  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  was  born  on  the  31st  of  October, 
1827.  When  but  six  years  of  age,  he  came  to  this  country 
with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Delaware  county,  and 
engaged  in  farming.  Young  LEWIS  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  receiving  meanwhile  a  common  school  education,  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  about  the  year  1850,  when 
he  entered  mercantile  life  at  llamden.  in  Orleans  county, 
and  has  followed  it  successfully  until  the  present  time. 
Soon  after  he  started  in  business  he  married  Miss  JANETTE 
NEISH.  His  father  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age. 

Besides  his  mercantile  pursuits,  Mr.  LEWIS  has  had  some 
experience  in  railroad  building,  and  during  the  years  1870 
and  1871  he  constructed,  under  contract,  about  twenty  miles 
of  the  New  York  and  Midland  railroad.  From  1862  until 
1870  he  held  the  office  of  Assistant-Assessor  of  Internal 
Revenue. 

In  politics,  Mr.  LEWIS  was  formerly  a  Whig,  but  lie  joined 
the  Republican  party  at  its  organization,  and  has  ever  since 
voted  and  acted  therewith.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was 
chosen  to  represent  his  district  in  the  Assembly,  defeating 
JAMES  KNOX  POLK  JACKSON"  —  whose  name,  it  would  seem, 
deserved  better  fortune  —  by  the  usual  majority  of  1,135,  the 
Republican  majority  of  the  previous  year  being  but  G82. 
His  majority  last  fall,  when  he  was  re-elected,  was  457. 

Mr.  LEWIS  is  known  as  a  careful,  sound  and  able  K-gi.-hi- 
lor.  Always  favoring  economy  when  it  can  be  accomplished 
witli  due  regard  for  the  public  interests,  he  is  keenly  alive  to 
the  material  and  moral  advancement  of  his  own  locality,  as 
well  as  the  entire  State.  While  he  perhaps  yields  to  no  man 
in  his  attachment  to  party,  his  votes  and  speeches  are  evi- 
dently dictated  by  honest  conviction  and  regard  for  that 


246  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

which  is  due  to  his  constituents.  He  makes  no  pretensions 
to  oratory,  but  he  is  nevertheless  a  clear  and  cogent  speaker, 
and  has  the  faculty  of  presenting  his  views  sensibly  and 
gracefully,  and  frequently  takes  part  in  the  debates  on  gen- 
eral questions. 


CYRILLO  S.  LINCOLN. 


Being  a  man  of  acknowledged  ability,  sound  principles 
and  inflexible  integrity,  and  possessing  a  large  share  of  per- 
sonal magnetism,  Mr.  LINCOLN  wields  an  influence  hardly 
inferior  to  that  of  any  other  member  of  the  present  Assem- 
bly. His  habit  of  thinking  and  acting  for  himself  on  all 
important  questions,  at  the  same  time  maintaining  an  atti- 
tude of  entire  party  fealty,  and  doing  so  with  such  tact  and 
judgment  as  to  commit  no  mistakes,  has  secured  him  respect 
as  well  as  the  hearty  esteem  of  friends  and  opponents.  His 
character  has  the  ring  of  the  genuine  metal,  and  though  he 
is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  the  Assembly,  his  gar- 
ments are  free  from  the  slightest  taint. 

Mr.  LINCOLN  was  born  in  South  Bristol,  Ontario  county, 
on  the  18th  of  July,  1833.  His  father,  Lucius  LINCOLN', 
was  born  in  Otsego  county,  and  is  still  living  and  engaged  in 
farming.  Young  LINCOLN  enjoyed  ample  educational  advan- 
tages. At  the  age  of  twelve  he  entered  the  Genesee  Wesleyau 
Seminary,  subsequently  spent  some  time  in  the  Xew  York 
Conference  Seminary,  and  in  1855  entered  Union  College, 
graduating  from  that  institution  with  honor  in  1858.  He 
then  read  law  for  a  year  or  more  at  the  office  of  F.  L. 
DUKAND,  in  Rochester,  and  was  soon  after  admitted  to  the 
bar.  Since  then  he  has  practiced  successfully,  devoting 
much  of  his  time,  however,  to  grape  growing,  owning  one  of 
the  finest  vineyards  in  that  section  of  the  State.  In  1804  lie 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  held  the  office  until 
1871,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly. 


GYRILLO  S.  LINCOLN.  247 

His  career  in  the  Assembly  has  been  most  creditable  to  his 
constituents  and  to  himself.  He  was  elected  to  the  last 
House  by  a  majority  of  510,  but  in  the  recent  canvass  his 
majority  reached  810,  and  constitutes  a  most  gratifying 
indorsement  of  his  course.  His  recognition  at  Albany  has 
also  been  marked.  Though  he  had  been  placed  on  no  very 
important  committees  last  year,  a  deserved  tribute  was  paid 
him  by  the  House  later  in  the  session  in  choosing  him  as  one 
of  the  managers  in  the  BARNARD  impeachment  trial.  The 
result  of  that  trial  is  well  known,  and  no  one,  with  perhaps 
one  or  two  exceptions,  labored  harder  to  bring  it  about  than 
Mr.  LINCOLN.  In  the  present  House  he  is  Chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Claims,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Petitions  of  Aliens  and  of  the  Sub-Committee  of 
the  Whole,  and  of  the  special  committee  to  investigate  the 
affairs  of  the  Erie  Railway  Company. 

Mr.  LINCOLN'S  Kepublicanism  is  a  part  of  his  personality. 
It  is  "  dyed  in  the  wool."  Since  the  party  was  organized  he 
has  steadily  acted  with  it,  voting  for  FREMONT  in  1856,  for 
LINCOLN  twice  and  for  GRANT  twice.  He  is,  in  fact,  one  of 
the  most  active  and  influential  Republicans  of  Ontario  county. 
As  a  public  speaker  he  has  few  siiperiors.  With  a  voice  full 
and  sonorous,  easy  and  natural  manner  of  delivery,  and  clear 
enunciation,  he  has  no  difficulty  in  securing  the  attention  of 
the  House,  whatever  the  topic  of  discussion.  He  talks  well 
on  all  subjects,  and  is  also  a  clear  and  acute  reasoner,  hold- 
ing in  the  main  sound  views  on  all  the  political,  social  and 
financial  questions  of  the  day. 

Physically,  Mr.  LINCOLN  is  well  built,  and  the  embodi- 
ment, of  perfect  health.  His  prepossessing  countenance  is  a 
true  index  to  the  man,  and  harmonizes  well  with  the  broad 
intellectual  forehead,  luxuriant  brown  hair,  and  clear  blue 
eyes.  The  people  of  the  Second  district  of  Ontario  can  cer- 
tainly congratulate  themselves  on  bein#  well  represented  in 
the  present  Assembly. 


248  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


DOLPHUS   S.  LYNDE. 


The  son  of  parents  in  quite  comfortable  circumstances, 
Mr.  LYNDE  has  been  literally  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tune. He  was  born  at  Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  July  1, 
1833,  and  is  therefore  nearly  forty  years  of  age.  His  parents 
were  of  Irish  and  English  descent.  He  remained  with  his 
father,  doing  farm  work,  and  attending  the  common  schools 
and  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary  until  the  age  of  twenty, 
when  he  married  ESTHER  S.  CAUL,  who  proved  herself 
indeed  "  a  help-meet "  to  him.  His  father  was  worth  a 
fine  property  at  that  time,  yet  he  declined  to  extend  to  the 
young  couple  any  pecuniary  aid  whatever.  He  argued  that 
he  had  earned  the  money  himself,  and,  as  he  might  need  it, 
he  proposed  to  take  care  of  it  while  he  lived.  The  newly- 
married  pair  moved  into  a  board  shanty,  and  supported 
themselves  by  keeping  boarders  at  a  dollar  and  a  half  each 
per  week,  the  plucky  husband  earning  in  the  mean  time  about 
$20  a  month  by  driving  an  ox  team  and  carting  and  piling 
lumber.  He  carried  the  first  fifty  pounds  of  flour  for  the 
new  household  a  distance  of  two  miles  past  his  father's  house, 
although  at  the  same  time  there  were  two  hundred  bushels  of 
wheat  in  the  old  gentleman's  barn. 

The  somewhat  singular  conduct  of  his  parent  aroused  all 
the  spirit  in  the  young  man's  breast.  When  the  next  spring 
arrived  he  bought  a  farm  and  a  stock  of  cows  on  credit,  and 
sold  them  again  in  the  fall,  realizing  §1,000  above  the  debt  he 
had  incurred.  This  fortunate  speculation  was  the  beginning 
of  a  successful  career.  Placing  his  money  at  interest,  lie 
kept  a  set  of  books  during  the  next  two  years  for  JAMES 
STERLIXG,  an  Antwerp  iron  manufacturer,  at  an  annual 
salary  of  8500,  and  the  use  of  a  house  and  garden.  At  the 
end  of  three  years  he  had  doubled  his  thousand  dollars.  He 
then  moved  to  Hermon,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  he  has 


DOLPHUS  S.  LYNDE.  249 

since  been  engaged  in  selling  goods,  milling,  buying  and  sell- 
ing cattle  and  real  estate,  and  similar  occupations.  He  also 
aided  to  organize  the  Cooper's  Falls  Iron  Works,  and  was  one 
of  the  stockholders  of  the  corporation,  but  sold  his  interest 
before  the  works  were  finally  completed. 

He  has  been  uniformly  successful  in  all  his  ventures,  so 
that  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  a  handsome  fortune,  and  he 
filially  attributes  his  success  in  life  entirely  to  what  he  deemed, 
at  the  time,  very  harsh  conduct  on  the  part  of  his  respected 
parent,  which,  however,  had  the  intended  effect  to  stimulate 
him  to  make  extraordinary  exertions  to  place  himself  in  an 
independent  position.  Plowcver  we  may  regard  the  course, 
of  the  elder  LYNDE  in  the  abstract,  we  must  admit  that  he 
correctly  estimated  his  son's  character,  and  did  what  in  the 
end  proved  to  be  the  best  for  him. 

Since  Mr.  LYNDE  has  resided  in  St.  Lawrence  county,  he 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  its  political  history. 
Previous  to  1864  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  in  that  year,  in 
common  with  many  Democrats,  he  took  a  new  departure,  and 
cast  his  vote  for  the  LINCOLN  electoral  ticket.  Since  that 
time,  he  has  invariably  acted  with  the  Republican  party.  As 
a  member  of  that  party  he  represented  the  town  of  Hermon. 
in  the  St.  Lawrence  Board  of  Supervisors,  for  three  years, 
commencing  in  1868.  In  1870  he  was  appointed  a  Notary 
Public.  Three  times  in  succession  he  has  been  elected  to  the 
Assembly  from  the  Second  district  of  St.  Lawrence,  the  last 
time  by  a  majority  of  2,486,  and  his  straightforward,  honest 
course  in  that  party  has  becTi  a  source  of  gratification,  alike 
to  his  constituents  and  the  State  at  large,  in  which  he  is 
already  quite  extensively  known. 


250  LJFE  SKETCHES. 


JAMES  MACKIN. 


Mr.  MACKIN,  a  man  of  prepossessing  appearance  and 
pleasant  address,  represents  the  First  district  of  Dutchess 
county  for  the  second  term.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
genuine  Irish  stock,  though  his  parents  were  natives  of  this 
country,  his  father  having  been  born  in  New  York,  and  his 
mother  in  Newburgh.  They  both  died,  however,  within 
three  years  of  each  other,  before  young  MACKIN  had  reached 
his  eighth  year,  and  he  was  left  entirely  without  means. 
Compelled  thus  to  struggle  for  his  own  support,  from  early 
youth,  Mr.  MACKIN  is  necessarily  one  of  those  practical 
self-made  men,  who  contribute  so  largely  to  the  prosperity  of 
the  country. 

Born  in  Newburgh,  Orange  county,  on  the  25th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1823,  he  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  New- 
burgh  and  Fishkill,  and  has  spent  the  greater  portion  of  his 
life  in  the  latter  town,  where  he  has  had  the  care  of  a  large 
estate.  During  the  years  1860,  1861  and  1862,  he  conducted 
a  mercantile  establishment  at  Fishkill  quite  successfully. 
The  responsibilities  of  the  estate  mentioned  were,  however, 
sufficient  to  give  him  ample  occupation,  and  he  retired  from 
business.  Subsequently,  he  became  President  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Fishkill  Landing,  and  still  holds  that 
position. 

Mr.  MACKIN  has  mingled  largely  in  public  and  political 
life.  He  was  an  active  and  influential  Whig  of  the  Free  Soil 
stamp,  until  the  party  was  dissolved.  He  was  not  only  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  which  gave  form  and  cohesion  to 
the  Republican  organization,  but,  previous  to  18G6,  he  was 
several  times  a  delegate  to  the  conventions  of  that  party,  and 
has  held  a  number  of  public  positions.  For  four  years  lie 
was  postmaster  at  Fishkill,  holding  the  position  under  the 
appointment  of  President  FILLMORE.  In  1862  President 


JAMES  MAC  KIN.  251 

LINCOLN  appointed  him  United  States  Assessor  for  the  12th 
(now  the  13th)  district,  and  he  held  the  office  two  years  and 
a  half.  Foul1  times  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  his  town, 
and  once  he  was  ctiosen  President  of  the  Board.  In  1859  he 
represented  his  Assembly  district  in  the  Legislature,  serving 
on  the  Committees  on  Claims,  and  Internal  affairs  of  Towns 
and  Counties. 

During  the  past  six  or  seven  years,  Mr.  MACKIN  has  acted 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  elected  to  the  Assembly 
last  fall  as  a  member  of  that  political  organization,  receiving 
a  majority  of  828  over  EDWARD  M.  GORIXG,  the  present  Scr- 
geant-at-Arms  of  the  House,  who  was  elected  in  1871  by  a 
majority  of  over  1,400. 

Though  not  greatly  given  to  debate,  Mr.  MACKIN  possesses 
excellent  qualifications  for  legislative  position.  He  enjoys  a 
large  degree  of  popularity,  both  in  private  and  public  life, 
and  there  are  few  men  in  his  section  of  the  State  more  deserv- 
ing of  public  confidence.  He  was  married,  in  July,  1858, 
to  Miss  SARAH  E.  WILTSE,  a  very  intelligent  and  accom- 
plished lady,  and  a  daughter  of  JAMES  WILTSE,  an  old  and 
respected  citizen  of  Fishkill.  She  was  a  devout  member  of 
the  Keformed  Church,  where  Mr.  MACKIX  also  worshiped. 
Her  death  took  place  in  1862,  and  her  place  in  the  family 
circle  has  never  been  filled.  Mr.  M.  has  been  reasonably  suc- 
cessful in  all  his  business  undertakings,  and  may  be  regarded 
as  in  quite  comfortable  circumstances. 


252  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JOHN  MANLEY. 


The  member  from  the  Second  district  of  Cattaraugus 
county  is  new  to  the  Assembly,  but  he  is  well  known  through- 
out the  State  as  a  sound  and  reliable  business  man,  as  well 
as  an  earnest  and  conscientious  Republican.  Born  in  JSTor- 
ridgewock,  Me.,  in  the  year  1824,  his  early  years  were  mainly 
spent  upon  the  farm  of  his  father,  AM  ASA  MANLEY.  He 
attended  school  regularly,  however,  and  obtained  a  good 
English  education.  In  1847  he  married  Miss  ELIZABETH 
BITTUES,  at  Augusta,  Me.,  and  soon  afterward  removed  to  this 
State.  He  settled  at  Little  Valley,  Cattaraugus  county, 
where  he  in  time  became  the  owner  of  a  large  landed  prop- 
erty. For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming, 
and  gradually  became  one  of  the  most  prosperous,  active  and 
influential  citizens  of  that  section.  His  real  estate  operations 
in  Little  Valley  have  been  quite  extensive,  and  to  his  enter- 
prise and  public  spirit  is  due  much  of  the  attractions  of  that 
thriving  village. 

Mr.  MANLEY  has  been  very  prominently  identified  with 
politics  during  most  of  his  life.  In  his  early  days  he  was  a 
Whig,  and  as  such  he  voted  for  Generals  TAYLOR  and  SCOTT 
for  the  Presidential  office.  Since  the  Whig  party  dissolved 
he  has  been  an  unswerving  Republican,  taking  a  leading 
part  in  the  councils  of  that  party,  both  in  his  own  county 
and  in  the  State  at  large.  He  has  also  held  several  important 
public  positions,  in  which  he  invariably  exhibited  marked 
ability  and  devotion  to  duty,  as  well  as  the  sternest  integrity. 
His  first  entrance  into  public  life  was  in  I860,  when  he  repre- 
sented Little  Valley  in  the  Cattaraugus  Board  of  Supervi- 
sors. In  1870  he  was  again  chosen  a  member  of  the  Board, 
and  still  serves  in  that  capacity,  being  re-elected  every  year 
by  a  nearly  unanimous  vote.  In  180]  he  was  appointed 
Clerk  in  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  under  Secretary 


JOHN  MANLEY.  253 

SMITH,  and  served  four  years.  In  18G4  he  was  detailed  as  a 
special  Indian  Agent  within  the  New  York  agency,  and  it 
was  made  his  duty  to  pay  over  the  moneys  and  annuities  due 
from  the  United  States  under  treaty  stipulations.  In  the 
performance  of  that  duty  he  visited  the  several  reservations, 
and  conferred  freely  with  the  Indians  in  reference  to  their 
educational,  agricultural  and  industrial  condition,  and  also 
in  regard  to  a  difficulty  which  had  previously  arisen  between 
the  special  Commissioner  of  the  Government  and  some  of 
the  representatives  of  the  Six  Nations.  In  March,  18G5,  he 
was  appointed  Military  Secretary  on  the  Staff  of  Governor 
FEXTON",  and  held  the  position  until  May,  1866.  Since  that 
time,  however,  he  has  been  an  uncompromising  opponent 
of  Mr.  FENTON". 

During  the  war,  Mr.  MANLEY  was  active  in  his  efforts  to 
mitigate  the  sufferings  of  the  Union  soldiers  in  the  hospital 
and  in  the  camp.  During  his  residence  in  Washington  he 
was  active  in  their  behalf,  directing  his  efforts,  of  course, 
specially  to  those  from  his  own  county.  At  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  received  several  handsome  testimonials,  in  recogni- 
tion of  the  service  he  rendered  in  this  respect,  among  which 
was  an  elegant  gold  watch  and  chain,  presented  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Sixty-fourth  New  York  Volunteers. 

That  Mr.  MANLEY  has  gained  considerable  eminence  as  an 
agriculturist,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  served  seven  years 
as  President  of  the  Cattaraugus  County  Agricultural  Society, 
aiding  very  materially  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  prosperous 
condition.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society. 

In  the  recent  canvass,  Mr.  MANLEY  was  met  by  a  storm  of 
detraction  and  slander,  and  herculean  efforts  were  made  to 
defeat  him  ;  but,  after  an  exciting  contest,  he  was  successful, 
notwithstanding  the  large  "  Liberal  "  defection  in  his  district, 
by  a  majority  of  535. 

He  is  a  plain,  substantial-looking  gentleman,  in  the  full 
flush  of  rosy  health,  and  possesses  a  nature  well  calculated 


254:  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

to  win  the  regard  of  his  fellows.  His  religion,  as  he  himself 
expresses  it,  consists  in  faith  in  the  Supreme  Being,  and  an 
endeavor  to  do  right  in  all  things.  A  knowledge  of  the 
man  impresses  one  with  the  belief  that  he  is  quite  successful 
in  carrying  that  sort  of  religion  into  his  daily  life. 


JOHN  S.  MARCY. 

Mr.  MARCY,  a  clear-headed,  energetic  man  of  business,  is 
the  son  of  ZEBADIAH  and  ABIGAIL  MARCY,  of  Millington, 
Connecticut,  and  was  born  at  Willimantic,  in  the  same  State, 
on  the  23d  of  March.  1830.  He  received  in  his  youth  no 
more  than  the  ordinary  common  school  education  ;  but  gifted 
as  he  is  with  quick  perception,  large  powers  of  observatipn 
and  a  good  stock  of  common  sense,  there  are  few  men  of  his 
age  and  position  in  life  who  entertain  broader  views  of  pub- 
lic affairs,  or  whose  counsel  is  more  valuable.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a  healthy 
personal  organization  in  early  youth.  Since  his  majority  he 
has  been  engaged  in  several  business  ventures,  in  which  he 
has  met  with  uniform  success.  About  the  year  1862  he  went 
into  the  insurance  business,  which  he  followed  until  1871. 
In  that  year  he  purchased  a  farm  near  Riverhead,  where  lie 
now  resides.  Twenty  years  ago  he  married  Miss  SARAH  L. 
CASE,  whose  family  resides  in  Brooklyn. 

Until  the  year  1860  Mr.  MARCY  was  a  Democrat,  but  in 
common  with  many  others  then  in  that  party,  he  joined  that 
organization  which  had  assumed  the  duty  of  crushing  armed 
treason.  Ever  since  Sumter  was  fired  upon  lie  has  been  a 
straightforward  and  consistent  Republican.  Mr.  M.  was  a 
member  of  the  last  Assembly,  having  been  elected  over 
JAMES  N. -BAYLIS.  a  member  in  1871,  by  a  majority  of  1.194. 
His  popularity  among  his  constituents  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  his  majority  last  fall  was  1,314. 


JEREMIAH  McGuiRE.  255 

Mr.  MARCY  is  a  man  of  medium  height,  with  a  frame 
solidly  knit  and  well  proportioned.  He  is  quite  genial  in 
disposition,  and  popular  among  a  host  of  friends.  Having 
taken  a  deep  interest  in  politics  for  many  years  past  he  is 
well  posted  in  all  the  intricacies  and  detail  of  party  manage- 
ment. He  seldom  makes  speeches  upon  the  floor  of  the 
House,  but  his  influence  and  labors  are  appreciably  felt  in 
the  shaping  and  perfecting  of  important  legislation. 


JEREMIAH   McGUIRE. 


Schuyler  county  is  fortunate  in  her  present  representative 
in  the  Assembly.  Mr.  McGuiKE,  to  whom  we  allude,  is  a  law- 
yer of  eminent  ability,  who  possesses  much  more  than  the 
average  share  of  discriminating  judgment  and  common 
sense.  Without  being  at  all  obtrusive,  and  only  occasionally 
indulging  himself  in  a  speech,  he  is,  notwithstanding  his 
connection  with  the  political  minority,  a  man  of  command- 
ing influence  in  shaping  legislation.  His  legal  reputation  is 
one  of  the  best  in  the  State,  having  enjoyed  a  wide  practice 
in  the  courts  of  central  and  western  "New  York  for  many 
years  past,  and  being  connected  with  more  celebrated  causes 
than  usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  lawyers  outside  of  the  great 
cities.  The  McGEE  suits,  which  have  been  in  litigation  for 
years,  involving  an  immense  estate,  were  in  his  charge  from 
their  commencement,  while  other  suits  of  magnitude  have 
been  conducted  by  him  successfully.  Born  in  Ireland  in  the 
year  .1825,  Mr.  McCuiRE  came  to  this  country  at  an  early 
age.  He  enjoyed  no  extraordinary  educational  advantages  in 
his  youth,  but  he  eagerly  availed  himself  of  all  that  his 
opportunities  threw  in  his  way,  and  when  he  reached  man's 
estate,  determined  to  qualify  himself  for  the  legal  profession. 
He  did  so.  and  was  dulv  admitted  to  the  bar.  As  we  have 
intimated,  he  soon  rose  to  eminence  in  his  calling,  and 


256  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

enjoys  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  very 
largely.  He  is  located  in  the  thriving  village  of  Havana. 
His  career  as  a  politician,  as  a  lawyer,  and  as  a  man.  is 
replete  with  much  that  would  interest  the  public,  and  we 
therefore  regret  that  the  paucity  of  data  in  our  possession 
precludes  more  than  the  barest  reference  to  his  life. 

He  was  elected  from  the  county  of  Schuyler  to  succeed  a 
Republican  by  a  majority  of  106.  He  is  a  firm  and  consist- 
ent Democrat,  and  has  long  taken  an  active  part  in  politics. 
His  well-known  legal  abilities  secured  him  a  place  on  the 
Judiciary  Committee,  and  he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittees on  Claims,  and  Local  and  Special  Laws. 


DANIEL  P.  MCQUEEN. 


We  have  been  accustomed  to  couple  the  name  of  the  his- 
toric county  up  the  Mohawk  with  venerable  associations,  but 
the  fact  that  she  is  represented  on  the  floor  of  the  Assembly 
by  one  of  her  younger  sons,  is  not  so  incongruous  as  it  might 
appear  at  first  thought,  inasmuch  as  she  has  of  late  suc- 
ceeded, in  a  figurative  sense,  in  transfusing  a  good  deal  of 
youthful  blood  into  her  veins. 

Mr.  McQuEEisr,  the  member  from  Schenectady,  is  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  July  6,  1843. 
His  father,  WALTER  McQuEEN,  a  practical  machinist,  re- 
moved to  Schenectady  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  and 
became  Superintendent  of  the  well-known  Schenectady  loco- 
motive works,  a  position  which  lie  has  held  until  the  present 
time.  Young  McQrjEEN  received  a  good  common  school 
education,  and  was  brought  up  in  the  locomotive  works, 
becoming,  like  his  father,  a  practical  machinist  and  locomo- 
tive engineer.  Four  years  since,  he  was  married  to  Miss  S. 
M.  MYERS,  of  Toledo.  Ohio. 


DARIUS  A.  MOORE.  257 

He  has  never  been  particularly  prominent  as  a  politician 
until  the  recent  canvass,  when  he  was  induced,  somewhat 
against  his  wishes  at  first,  to  become  a  candidate  for  the 
Assembly,  and  was  nominated  in  the  convention  by  accla- 
mation. The  Democrats  nominated  THOMAS  B.  MITCHELL, 
a  man  of  considerable  ability,  but  the  popularity  of  Mr. 
McQuEEN  secured  his  election  by  a  majority  of  489.  Mr. 
McQuEE.v  is  a  man  of  action  rather  than  of  words,  and  is 
wide  awake  in  every  sense  of  the  term.  Favored  as  he  is 
with  robust  health,  a  superb  physique,  and  sound  common 
sense,  his  future  career  certainly  promises  to  be  a  brilliant 
one. 


DARIUS  A.  MOORE. 


Mr.  MOORE  is  serving  his  second  term,  and  ably  represents 
the  First  district  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  He  is  of  Scotch 
descent,  though  his  parents  were  both  American  born,  his 
father,  JOHX  W.  MOORE,  being  a  native  of  Pultney,  Vt.,  and 
his  mother  of  Ogdensburgh,  1ST.  Y.  Young  MOORE  received 
a  good  education  in  Gouverneur  "Wesleyan  Seminary,  and 
early  developed  a  taste  for  mercantile  life.  For  a  number  of 
years  past  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  business,  and 
has  acquired  a  wide  reputation  for  energy  and  integrity. 

Mr.  MOORE  has  been  an  active  politician  from  his  youth 
up,  always  active  in  the  primaries,  in  the  conventions  and  at 
the  polls.  His  influence  in  the  politics  of  his  county  is  there- 
fore something  tangible.  Frequently,  also,  he  has  held 
responsible  positions  in  the  gift  of  his  party,  always  bringing 
to  the  performance  of  his  duties,  of  whatever  character,  de- 
cided ability  and  sound  judgment.  Soon  after  he  reached  his 
majority  he  was  elected  Town  Clerk,  and  held  that  position 
until  1865.  He  was  then  elected  Supervisor  of  the  town  of 
DeKalb,  and  has  held  the  position  ever  since,  being  again 
17 


258  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

elected  this  spring.  He  commenced  life  as  a  Democrat, 
though  he  voted  for  FILLMOEE  in  1865,  but  he  soon  afterward 
joined  the  Eepublican  organization,  and  has  since  acted  and 
voted  therewith.  In  1871,  he  was  chosen  to  the  Assembly 
by  a  majority  of  1,816.  He  served  his  constituents  with  such 
marked  fidelity  to  their  interests,  and  proved  himself  so 
capable  as  a  legislator,  that  he  was  returned  last  fall  by  the 
largely  increased  majority  of  2,252. 

Mr.  MOORE  is  a  quiet  member,  rarely  making  a  speech,  but 
he  is  fully  conversant  with  the  requirements  of  legislative 
routine,  and  is  second  to  none  in  executive  capacity  and 
effective  industry. 


GEORGE  B.  MOSHER. 


Mr.  MOSHER,  of  the  Fourth  Albany  district,  is  a  native  of 
Warren  county,  where  he  was  born  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1825.  He  received  a  good  common  school  education,  and 
became  a  lumber  merchant  and  manufacturer  at  Fort 
Edward,  carrying  on  business  there  for  a  number  of  years. 
While  a  resident  of  Fort  Edward  he  was  prominent  as  a 
Democratic  local  political  leader.  In  1860  he  was  elected 
Supervisor  of  the  town,  ASAHEL  WIXG  being  his  opponent. 
In  1863  he  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Sheriff  of 
Washington  county,  but  was  defeated.  A  few  years  ago  he 
removed  to  West  Troy,  Albany  county,  and  engaged  in  busi- 
ness quite  extensively  as  a  lumber  commission  merchant. 
In  this  he  has  been  quite  successful,  and  is  now  worth  a  snug 
fortune. 

He  was  not  long  a  resident  of  West  Troy  before  he  became 
prominent  in  political  circles,  and  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
three  times  a  candidate  for  Member  of  Assembly  sufficiently 
indicates  the  regard  in  which  he  is  held  by  the  Democratic 
party.  He  was  nominated  in  1870.  but,  owing  to  the  fact 


GEORGE  B.  MOSHER.  259 

that  there  were  two  Democratic  candidates  in  the  field,  he 
was  defeated.  He  was  renominated  in  1871,  however,  and 
was  successful,  defeating  OSCAE  F.  POTTER  by  78  majority. 
Last  fall  he  was  again  elected  by  a  majority  of  136,  JEHIEL 
W.  HIMES,  of  Cohoes,  being  his  opponent.  As  a  member  of 
the  House,  he  is  energetic  and  capable,  giving  close  attention 
to  the  interests  of  his  constituents.  He  serves  on  the  Conv 
mittees  on  Canals,  and  Villages. 

Mr.  MOSHEE  boasts  a  long  and  honorable  army  record. 
Commissioned  as  Captain  of  Company  F,  Ninety-third  Regi- 
ment New  York  Volunteers,  in  August,  1861,  he  proceeded 
to  the  front,  and  served  about, two  years  under  Generals 
McCi/ELLAN,  HOOKEE,  BuENSiDE  and  MEADE,  participating 
in  nearly  all  the  battles  and  marches  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  during  that  period.  A  portion  of  the  time  he  was 
detailed  as  an  officer  of  General  MCCLELLAN'S  headquarters' 
guard. 

Mr.  MOSHEE  is  a  man  of  somewhat  striking  presence. 
He  is  solidly  built,  about  the  medium  size,  with  dark  features, 
long  flowing  beard,  tinged  with  iron-grey,  large  black  eyes 
and  dark  hair.  He  has  the  appearance  of  an  earnest,  intel- 
ligent man  of  business,  and  he  is  one.  He  was  married,  in 
1848,  to  CHEISTIKA  McMiLLix,  of  Warren  county. 


260  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JOHN  NICE. 


Erie  county  has  very  nearly  a  monopoly  of  the  German 
element  in  the  House,  there  being  but  two  native  Germans 
from  the  rest  of  the  State,  while  Erie  county  sends  two  very 
excellent  representatives  of  that  nationality,  Messrs.  BALTZ 
and  NICE.  Mr.  NICE  is  a  resident  of  Grand  Island,  and  was 
elected  from  the  Fourth  district  of  Erie  county.  He  was 
born  October  15,  1813,  in  Kiudenheim,  Rhenish  Bavaria. 
He  therefore  ranks  among  the  older  members  of  the  House. 
His  parents,  who  were  also  born  in  Kindenheim,  emigrated 
to  this  country  in  1836,  settling  upon  a  farm  in  Erie  county. 

Young  NICE  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
brought  up  on  the  paternal  farm,  which  he  continued  to 
manage  for  some  years  after  his  father  died.  Finally,  he 
became  a  heavy  dealer  in  wood  and  timber,  and  gave  up 
agriculture.  , 

He  has  generally  felt  a  warm  interest  in  politics,  and  exer- 
cises considerable  influence  among  his  countrymen,  who  con- 
stitute a  large  proportion  of  the  population  of  that  section 
of  the  State.  He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  party  was 
organized,  and  before  that  was  a  Whig.  His  almost  life-long 
residence  in  Erie  county,  and  his  active  participation  in  its 
politics,  have  rendered  him  more  than  ordinarily  deserving 
of  the  numerous  public  positions  he  has  been  called  to  fill. 
He  has  served  four  times  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  in 
1864,  and  each  time  he  bore  himself  with  credit.  During 
three  years  —  from  1861  to  1863  —  he  was  County  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Poor.  Last  fall  he  was  selected  by  common 
consent  as  the  fittest  man  to  represent  his  district  in  the 
Assembly,  and  was  chosen  by  a  majority  of  754,  although 
another  German.  GEORGE  ZEXT,  run  against  him.  The  Re- 
publicans carried  the  district  by  a  majority  of  89. 

Mr.  NICE  is  a  man   of  robust,   well-developed  physique. 


MICHAEL  NORTON.  261 

His  countenance  indicates  much  decision  of  character, 
blended  with  kindness  of  heart.  He  is  one  of  the  quiet 
members,  but  he  watches  closely  the  progress  of  legislation. 
He  professes  the  Protestant  religion,  was  married  in  1843  to 
Miss  MARY  ANN  PFIZENMEIER,  and  is  greatly  respected  in 
the  community  where  he  resides. 


MICHAEL  NORTON. 


Mr.  NORTON,  from  the  Fifth  metropolitan  district,  is  one 
of  the  best  known  members  of  the  Xew  York  delegation. 
An  Irishman  by  birth,  but  a  thorough  American  in  feeling 
and  education,  energetic,  generous,  true-hearted,  social,  and 
in  every  way  an  agreeable  gentleman,  Mr.  NORTON  is  un- 
doubtedly one  of  the  most  popular  members  on  the  opposition 
side  of  the  House.  Born  on  Christinas  day,  1839,  he  is  now 
in  the  prime  of  a  vigorous  manhood,  and  presents  a  splendid 
specimen  of  physical  development.  The  better  traits  of 
manly  character  are  very  fully  indicated  in  his  physiognomy, 
of  which  a  pleasant  countenance,  a  mild  blue  eye,  and  a  firm, 
yet  amiable  expression  of  feature  are  the  main  characteristics. 
He  is  a  man  of  strong,  practical  common  sense,  and  knows 
well  how  to  make  his  knowledge  of  politics  available.  Few 
men  of  his  education  can  compare  with  him  in  his  control 
of  men  and  party  organizations,  lie  is  a  Democrat  by 
instinct,  faith,  education  and  practice,  and  though  a  firm 
adherent  of  Tammany,  and,  in  fact,  a  representative  of  that 
wing  of  the  Democracy  in  the  Assembly,  no  man  has  ever, 
by  assertion  or  intimation,  connected  him  with  the  fraudulent 
practices  of  certain  former  members  of  the  Tammany  organ- 
ization. 

Mr.  NORTON  was  born  in  the  count  v  of  Roscommon,  Ire- 
land, lli.s  ancestry  were  all  honorable  and  honored,  and 
embraced  men  of  distinction.  But  the  misfortunes  so  com- 


262  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

mon  and  constant  in  the  Green  Isle  did  not  spare  his  father's 
family ;  and  when  he  was  but  five  years  old  they  joined  in 
the  exodus  to  America,  and  settled  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  they  resided  up  to  the  time  of  their  death. 

Mr.  NORTON  is  almost  entirely  self-educated.  Except 
during  a  period  of  about  nine  months,  at  a  very  early  age,  he 
never  attended  a  school  under  ordinary  teachers;  at  the  age 
of  eight  years  he  not  only  had  to  earn  his  bread  but  make  it 
also,  and  commenced  that  part  of  his  education  which  relates 
to  the  "  loaves  and  fishes  "  in  a  cracker  bakery,  in  which  he 
remained  about  three  years.  He  was  then  employed  about 
five  years  with  the  firm  of  Swift  &  Co.,  sugar  refiners,  and 
subsequently  engaged  as  mess  boy  on  the  "  Atlantic,"  one  of 
the  vessels  of  the  "  Collins  Line,"  and  made  several  trips  to 
Europe.  He  next  learned  the  coopers  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed with  characteristic  industry  until  the  assault  upon 
Sumter  in  1861  called  the  country  to  arms.  Leaving  his 
hoops  and  staves  in  response  to  that  call,  Mr.  NORTOX 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  35th  Regiment  New  York  Volun- 
teers. His  popularity  and  ability  secured  his  selection  to  the 
Captaincy  of  Co.  D  of  the  regiment,  which  was  mustered 
into  service  in  May,  1861,  and  was  one  of  the  first  at  the 
front,  He  remained  in  the  field  about  eight  months  when 
news  of  the  serious  illness  of  his  mother  compelled  him  to 
resign,  his  father  having  died  a  few  months  previously,  and 
the  care  and  support  of  the  family  consequently  devolving 
upon  him. 

Returning  to  Xew  York  in  December,  1862,  he  was  urged 
to  enter  politics.  After  some  hesitation  he  accepted  an  inde- 
pendent Democratic  nomination  fur  Alderman  of  his  dis- 
trict, though  it  involved  the  leadership  of  a  forlorn  hope. 
The  result  of  the  election,  however,  was  auspicious  for  the 
future,  and  fully  demonstrated  his  power  with  the  people. 
Four  candidates  besides  himself  were  in  the  field,  but,  not- 
withstanding the  odds  against  him,  he  came  out  second  in 
the  race.  In  1864  he  again  ran  as  an  independent  Demo- 


MICHAEL  NORTON.  263 

cratic  candidate  and  came  off  victorious  in  a  severe  contest 
with  three  opponents.  His  course  in  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, during  his  first  term,  was  such  that  in  I860  he  received 
the  regular  Tammany  nomination  for  re-election,  and  after 
another  hot  contest  swept  the  field  against  three  candidates. 
His  aldermanic  record  was  eminently  satisfactory,  and  his 
courage  and  firmness,  combined  with  his  manifest  sincerity, 
his  natural  gentility  of  manners,  and  his  knowledge  of  men, 
constantly  added  to  his  power  and  popularity,  which  have 
since  been  fully  proven  by  his  repeated  election  to  the  State 
Senate  from  the  Third  district. 

At  the  time  Mr.  NORTON  became  a  Senatorial  candidate, 
in  1867,  the  Legislature  was  Kepublican,  and  a  Eepublican 
Senator,  Hon.  ABRAHAM  LEXT,  represented  the  district, 
which  had  become  traditionally  of  the  same  political  com- 
plexion. Mr.  NORTOX'S  first  campaign,  however,  changed 
the  tradition  and  the  facts,  and  he  curried  the  district  for 
the  Democracy  by  a  large  majority,  although  he  had  opposed 
to  him  CHARLES  BLAUVELT,  the  Mozart  Hall  candidate,  and 
two  Kepublican  candidates.  In  the  Senate  he  became  a  per- 
sonal favorite  with  men  of  all  parties,  and  was  in  all  respects 
a  valuable  member.  In  1869  he  was  again  nominated  as  the 
regular  Tammany  candidate  for  Senator,  and  though  again 
opposed  by  an  outside  Democrat,  ex-Alderman  FLYXN,  and 
by  a  Kepublican.  lion.  JACOB  SHARPK,  he  gave  both  a  speci- 
men of  his  quality  as  the  ''Thunderbolt,"  a  title  which  he 
earned  in  these  contests,  and  was  again  elected  by  a  large 
majority. 

In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  again  a  candidate,  but  the  com- 
bination against  him  was  too  formidable,  and  he  was  defeated. 
Last  November  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority 
of  673,  and  as  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Canals  and 
Militia,  he  is  an  effective  member  of  the  House. 

Besides  his  services  as  a  State  legislator  and  as  an  Alderman, 
Mr.  NORTON  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to  the  State  con- 
ventions of  his  party,  serving  in  that  capacity  in  the  National 


264  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Democratic  Convention  which  was  held  in  New  York  in 
July,  1868.  He  has  also  been  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Tammany  General  Committee  in  New  York,  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  most  shrewd  and  indefatigable  workers 
in  his  party. 


JAMES  M.  OAKLEY. 


Mr.  OAKLEY  is  now  serving  his  third  term  as  the  represent- 
ative from  the  Third  district  of  Queens  county.  He  is  one 
of  the  younger  members  of  the  House,  having  been  born  in 
New  York  city  on  the  19th  of  January,  1839.  He  received 
a  thorough  academic  education,  and  since  his  majority  has 
been  engaged  in  the  business  of  buying  and  selling  real 
estate.  He  now  resides  at  Jamaica,  Queens  county,  where 
he  is  very  popular  among  all  classes. 

A  Democrat  of  unswerving  fidelity,  Mr.  OAKLEY  has 
mingled  considerably  in  politics,  and  enjoys  the  confidence 
of  his  party  in  very  large  measure.  In  the  recent  canvass 
extraordinary  efforts  were  made  to  defeat  him,  but  he  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  141,  over  THOMAS  J.  COGSWELL,  Repub- 
lican, and  was  the  only  Democrat  elected  in  Queens  county. 
He  is  a  man  of  unusually  prepossessing  appearance  and 
genial  manners.  Well  posted  in  the  routine  of  legislation, 
though  not  a  great  talker,  he  is  an  efficient  and  valuable 
member,  and  much  esteemed  by  all  so  fortunate  as  to  possess 
his  friendship. 

His  seat  was  contested  by  Mr.  COGSWELL,  his  opponent, 
but  the  Committee  on  Privileges  and  Elections  decided 
unanimously  that  Mr.  OAKLEY  was  entitled  to  the  seat. 


JOHN  O^BRIAN.  265 


JOHN   O' BRIAN. 


Mr.  O'BRIAN,  of  Erie,  is  a  son  of  JOHN  and  MARY  O' 
natives  of  the  county  of  Cork,  Ireland,  and  was  born  in  Little 
Falls,  Herkimer  county,  December  12,  1842.  He  is  well  ed- 
ucated, having  spent  most  of  his  youth  in  the  public  schools, 
and  in  the  Buffalo  Mercantile  College,  obtaining  a  thorough 
acquaintance  with  those  branches  especially  essential  to  busi- 
ness life.  After  leaving  school  he  learned  the  printing  busi- 
ness, but  he  was  compelled  to  leave  it  on  account  of  ill  health, 
and  was  then  employed  as  salesman  in  the  coal  department  of 
the  Delaware,  Lackawanna  and  Western  Railroad  Company,  at 
Buffalo.  At  the  commencement  of  President  GRANT'S  admin- 
istration, he  was  appointed  assistant  postmaster  of  Buffalo, 
and  served  two  years.  Recently  he  held  an  important  position 
in  the  State  Comptrollers  office,  under  Hon.  NELSON  K.  HOP- 
KINS, but  resigned  last  fall,  in  order  to  accept  a  nomination 
for  Member  of  Assembly. 

Mr.  O'BuiAN  has  always  acted  with  the  Republican  party, 
his  first  vote  having  been  cast  for  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN.  He 
has  mingled  largely  in  the  local  politics  of  his  district,  and 
not  only  bears  a  good  reputation  for  integrity  and  ability, 
but  is  very  popular  with  all  classes.  He  ran  for  Assembly 
in  1868,  on  the  Republican  ticket,  but  was  defeated  by  Hon. 
GKO.  J.  BAMLER.  The  result  of  the  contest  was,  however, 
quite  gratifying  to  Mr.  O'BRIAN,  inasmuch  as  he  ran  1.400 
ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  the  fall  of  1872.  he  again  received 
the  nomination,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  407.  over 
DANIEL  CRUISE,  Democrat,  in  a  district  which  gave  607 
Democratic  majority  the  previous  year.  He  is,  in  fact,  the 
first  Republican  member  ever  elected  in  the  district.  He  is 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Militia,  and  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Public  Education. 

Being  Captain  of  the  McMahon  Corps  of  the  74th  Regi- 


266  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

ment,  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.,  one  of  the  crack  organizations  among 
the  citizen  soldiery  of  Buffalo,  and  being  identified  with 
various  social  and  political  institutions  in  that  city,  Mr. 
O'BitiAN  naturally  enjoys  a  large  acquaintance,  and  he  is 
highly  esteemed  by  all  his  associates  and  friends.  He  pos- 
sesses numerous  graces  of  character,  and  is  ever  firm  in  his 
friendships,  strong  and  decided  in  his  convictions,  and  always 
the  courteous,  genial  gentleman.  With  his  many  good  quali- 
ties, however,  and  possessing  in  marked  degree  those  attri- 
butes which  are  calculated  to  win  the  regard  of  the  other 
sex,  Mr.  O'BKiAisr  is,  strangely  enough,  unmarried.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic. 


WILLIAM  S.  OPDYKE. 


Mr.  OPDYKE,  who  represents  the  Twentieth  metropolitan 
district,  \vas  born  on  the  6th  of  October,  1836.  He  received 
a  liberal  education,  graduating  at  the  age  of  twenty  from 
the  University  of  the  city  of  New  York.  Deciding  to  adopt 
the  profession  of  the  law,  he  attended  the  Albany  Law 
School  in  1866-7,  and  then  went  to  Europe  and  studied  at 
Heidelberg  during  the  years  1858  and  1859.  On  his  return 
he  again  attended  the  Albany  Law  School  in,  1859-60,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Albany  in  May,  1860,  and  has  since 
practiced  in  the  city  of  New  York.  '  He  has  always  been  more 
or  less  active  as  a  politician.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  life  he 
was  attached  to  the  Free  Soil  wing  of  the  Democratic  party, 
but,  as  the  issues  of  the  war  obliterated  that  distinction  in 
the  ranks  of  the  Democracy,  he,  in  common  with  many 
others  holding  similar  views,  gravitated  toward  Republican- 
ism, and  for  several  years  past  he  has  uniformly  acted  with 
the  party  which  fought  out  the  war  and  abolished  slavery. 
He  enjoys  a  large  popularity  in  the  Nineteenth  ward,  where  he 
resides,  but,  with  the  exception  of  being  a  member  of  the 


JACOB  M.  PATTERSON.  267 

lower  board  of  the  New  York  Common  Council  in  1864,  he 
has  never  held  public  office  until  the  present  year.  In  the 
present  canvass  he  was  elected  by  a  plurality  of  over  1,000, 
in  a  district  largely  Democratic,  the  opposition  vote  being 
about  equally  divided  between  the  Tammany  and  Apollo 
Hall  candidates.  This  result  is,  perhaps,  the  more  gratifying 
to  him,  as  the  Committee  of  Seventy  declined  to  indorse  his 
nomination. 

Mr.  OPDYKE  is  a  young  man  of  decided  force  of  character, 
and  possesses  marked  legislative  ability.  As  a  public  speaker 
he  is  pleasing,  concise  and  logical,  and.  though  he  is  more  at 
home,  perhaps,  in  the  discussion  of  legal  questions  than  any 
other,  he  brings  to  every  question  the  ripe  judgment  of  a 
well-balanced  and  well-informed  mind,  and  that  critical  fac- 
ulty which  springs  from  thoroughly  matured  conviction. 
Since  the  session  opened  he  has  ably  participated  in  numer- 
ous important  discussions,  and  was  specially  prominent  in 
the  debates  in  the  Assembly  upon  the  New  York  city  char- 
ter. He  is  a  man  of  very  pleasing  appearance,  and  carries 
with  him  the  manners  of  the  cultivated  gentleman.  He  was 
married  in  October,  1863,  to  Miss  POST,  a  daughter  of  Prof. 
ALFRED  C.  POST,  an  eminent  physician  of  New  York  city. 


JACOB  M.   PATTERSON. 


Hon.  JACOB  M.  PATTERSOX,  Jr..  was  born  of  American 
parents,  June  20th,  1838,  in  the  district  which  he  now  repre- 
sents, the  10th  of  New  York.  He  received  a  common  school 
and  academic  education,  and  is  now  engaged  in  business  as  a 
dealer  in  meats. 

Mr.  PATTERSOX  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  actively 
engaged  in  political  contests,  especially  in  his  own  district, 
where  he  has  labored  for  years  to  establish  a  Republican 
Association  to  be  composed  only  of  consistent  members  of 


268  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

his  party.  In  this  he  has  been  completely  successful,  and 
for  several  years  he  has  been  unanimously  elected  to  the 
presidency  of  a  large  and  influential  organization. 

A  warm  admirer  of  Gen.  GRAXT  during  his  military 
career,  he  was  one  of  his  most  ardent  supporters  in  1868, 
and  early  became  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  President's 
claims  to  the  renomination.  As  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  State  Central  Committee  "he  labored  zeal- 
ously during  the  late  campaign.  The  Tenth  Assembly  dis- 
trict, comprising  a  densely  populated  portion  of  the  Seven- 
teenth ward,  is  largely  Democratic,  and  great  numbers  of 
Germans  reside  within  its  boundaries.  By  the  latter  element 
Mr.  PATTERSOX  has  been  justly  regarded  as  a  friend,  and 
their  hearty  support  greatly  contributed  to  his  success  in  the 
late  election.  It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  Mr.  PATTERSON 
is  the  first  Republican  who  has  obtained  a  clear  majority  in 
the  district  since  the  formation  of  the  party. 

In  view  of  his  business  interests,  he  yielded  reluctantly  to 
persuasions  of  political  and  personal  friends,  and  entered 
upon  a  compaign  against  two  opponents,  one  of  whom  had 
received  the  regular  nominations  of  Tammany  and  Apollo 
Hall.  He  had,  however,  the  prestige  of  a  name  well  known 
and  highly  honored  for  many  years  in  the  district  where  his 
ancestors  resided.  Hosts  of  personal  and  political  friends, 
together  with  Germans  and  others  who,  regardless  of  party 
ties,  combined  with  those  who  were  enthusiastic  in  his  sup- 
port, on  account  of  his  great  personal  popularity  and  well- 
known  unswerving  devotion  to  Republican  principles, 
secured  a  result  which,  considering  the  political  complexion 
of  the  district,  surprised  those  most  who  deemed  themselves 
the  best  judges  of  political  probabilities,  and  can  only  be 
regarded  as  a  great  personal  triumph  of  the  candidate  thus 
honored.  In  1871  the  vote  for  member  of  Assembly  was  as 
follows:  Republican,  1,810;  Independent  Liberal,  309; 
Tammany,  Apollo,  and  Independent  Democrats,  3,632.  The 
Republican  candidate  was  elected  by  a  small  plurality,  though 


STEPHEN  PELL.  269 

the  total  opposition  vote  was  in  a  majority  of  2,131.  In 
1872  Tammany  and  Apollo  Hall  combined  upon  one  of  the 
candidates  of  1871,  and  a  German  ran  on  an  Independent 
ticket.  The  result  was  most  gratifying  to  the  friends  of  Mr. 
PATTERSON.  He  received  a  vote  of  2,985 ;  ROLLAVAGON,  the 
Tammany  and  Apollo  Hall  candidate,  received  1,834,  and 
WERNER,  the  Independent  candidate,  polled  Init  891  votes, 
thus  leaving  Mr.  PATTERSON  a  clear  majority  of  260,  and  a 
majority  over  Tammany  and  Apollo  Hall  of  1,151. 


STEPHEN  PELL. 


Mr.  PELL  is  a  prosperous  merchant  of  New  York  city, 
residing  in  the  Ninth  ward  of  that  city  nearly  all  his  life. 
He  was  born,  however,  in  the  Fifth  ward,  on  the  26th  of 
February,  1819,  being,  therefore,  about  fifty-four  years  of 
age.  He  was  a  son  of  ABIJAH  PELL,  who  served  with 
honor  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  PELL  is  in  large  degree  self- 
educated,  though  he  passed  through  the  usual  training 
which  the  average  American  youth  receives  in  the  public 
schools.  His  common-sense  views  of  questions  which  come 
before  him  as  a  legislator,  and  his  equally  common-sense 
mode  of  dealing  with  them,  were  derived  mainly  from  the 
school  of  experience,  in  which  he  has  been  all  his  life  an  apt 
pupil.  In  1843,  heAvas  married  to  MARY  JANE  MASTERSON, 
Avho  Avas  also  a  native  of  XeAv  York  city.  During  many 
years  Mr.  PELL  Avas  an  active  member  of  the  old  Volunteer 
Fire  Department  of  the  metropolis,  and  has  long  borne  the 
reputation  of  a  large-hearted,  public-spirited  citizen.  He 
never  held  public  position.  hoAvever,  until  1872,  Avhen  he 
represented  the  same  district,  the  Xinth,  in  the  Assembly, 
being  elected  by  a  decided  majority  over  two  opponents, 
WILLIAM  BERGEN  and  TERENCE  SHEA.  In  the  canvass 


270  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

last  fall  his  re-election  was  opposed  by  WILLIAM  DURGAN. 
He  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the 
party,  previous  to  which  he  acted  with  the  Whigs.  Mr. 
PELL  is  a  well-preserved  gentleman  of  courteous  manners 
and  liberal  views.  In  person  he  is  large  and  rather  stoutly 
built,  with  a  massive  head  and  shoulders, 'benevolent  coun- 
tenance, black  eye,  and  hair  plentifully  sprinkled  with 
gray.  He  is  esteemed  by  friends  and  opponents  alike,  and 
performs  his  legislative  duties  with  diligence  and  ability, 
devoting  his  attention  mainly  to  local  matters. 


EL  AM  PERSONS. 


Mr.  PERSONS,  who  re-presents  the  first  district  of  Jefferson 
county,  was  born  in  Somers,  Tolland  county,  Connecticut, 
August  2,  1809.  His  father,  SAMUEL  PERSONS,  was  also  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  but  he  removed  to  New  York  State  a 
few  years  after  his  marriage,  and  died  in  1859  at  the  age  of 
ninety-two.  Mr.  PERSONS  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  this  State,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  wheelwright, 
which  he  followed  until  about  the  year  1853,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  the  town  of  Ellisburgh,  and  has  managed 
it  up  to  the  present  time  with  a  very  good  degree  of  success. 
At  an  early  age  he  became  identified  with  the  old  Whig 
party,  and  steadily  adhered  to  its  fortunes  until  it  was 
dissolved;  since  that  event  he  has  as  steadily  acted  with  the 
Republican  party,  taking  a  very  active  part  in  the  details  of 
local  organization.  His  first  advent  in  public  affairs  was  in 
1847,  when  he  was  made  Collector  of  the  town  of  Ellisburgh, 
and  served  one  year.  In  1862  he  was  elected  Highway  Com- 
missioner, and  remained  in  office  continuously  for  nine  years. 
Last  fall  his  friends  and  neighbors  determined  upon  his  pro- 
motion, and,  after  receiving  the  unanimous  nomination  of 
his  district  convention,  he  was  elected  by  the  flattering 


GEORGE  W.  PHILLIPS.  271 

majority  of  1,587  over  ALEXANDER  DICKINSON,  a  Liberal 
Republican,  supported  by  Democrats.  Mr.  PERSONS  has 
been  married  twice,  his  first  wife  being  ELIZA  McNiTT,  whom 
he  married  in  1833,  and  his  second,  CHLOE  E.  KETCHUM, 
married  in  1855,  and  still  living.  Mr.  PERSONS  is  a  plain, 
blunt  man  of  action,  with  kindly  disposition  and  pleasant 
manners.  He  expends  very  little  energy  in  words,  but  is 
always  in  his  seat,  and  performs  his  legislative  duty  with 
diligence  and  judgment. 


GEORGE  W.  PHILLIPS. 


Mr.  PHILLIPS  was  born  in  the  town  and  county  of  Onon- 
daga,  December  18,  1823.  In  addition  to  an  ordinary  com- 
mon school  education,  he  came  to  Homer  in  1840  and  was  a 
diligent  and  faithful  and  successful  pupil  of  Cortland 
Academy  until  1843.  He  taught  a  common  school  for 
several  winters,  and  was  Town  Superintendent  of  common 
schools  during  the  years  1845  and  '46.  In  1850  he  became  a 
resident  of  Homer,  where  he  established  himself  as  a  mer- 
chant, and  has  pursued  that  occupation  ever  since.  He  soon 
acquired,  and  has  uniformly  maintained,  an  honorable  repu- 
tation as  an  upright,  competent  and  successful  business  man, 
and  a  public  spirited  citizen.  He  served  one  term  as  Trus- 
tee of  Homer  village.  For  the  past  several  years  he  has  been 
an  active  and  influential  Trustee  of  Cortlaud  Academy.  In 
1861  he  was  elected  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Homer,  and 
with  an  interval  of  a  few  months,  held  the  office  for  nine 
years.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Board  of  Supervisors  a  member 
of  the  Volunteer  Bounty  Committee,  and  held  that  position, 
most  of  the  time  as  Chairman,  during  its  entire  existence. 
His  services  on  this  committee  are  regarded  as  having  been  of 
great  value  to  the  county  and  to  the  Federal  cause.  His 
knoAvledge  of  the  details  of  the  duties  devolving  upon  him 


272  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

was  thorough,  and  his  judgment  was  much  respected.  His 
clear  perception  of  the  principles  involved,  his  retentive  mem- 
ory of  the  facts  in  each  case,  and  his  uniform  readiness  to  meet 
all  the  demands  made  by  it  upon  his  time  and  attention,  fully 
justified  the  successive  Boards  of  Supervisors  in  retaining  his 
services  upon  the  committee.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig 
until  the  formation  of  the  Kepublican  party,  in  which  he 
took  an  early  and  active  part.  He  has  remained  an  earnest 
worker  in  that  party.  In  the  Republican  County  Convention 
last  fall  he  was  nominated  for  Member  of  Assembly  by  an 
unusually  large  vote.  At  the  ensuing  election  he  received 
3,484  votes,  his  opponent,  Judge  W.  A.  SHANKLAND,  receiv- 
ing 2,492.  His  service  in  the  Assembly  thus  far  has  been 
eminently  satisfactory. 


EDWARD   C.  PHILPOT. 


The  gentleman  who  ably  represents  the  First  district  of 
Madison  county  in  the  Assembly  is  EDWARD  C.  PHILPOT,  a 
native  and  resident  of  the  toAvn  of  Eaton,  in  that  county. 
He  is  of  Protestant-Irish  descent.  His  grand-parents  settled 
in  Eaton  in  1807,  on  the  farm  still  occupied  by  his  mother, 
whoso  maiden  name  was  MARY  TOOKE,  his  father  having 
died  July  27,  1859.  Mr.  PHILPOT  was  born  on  November  9, 
1834,  and  lie  is,  therefore,  a  little  over  thirty-eight  years  of  age. 
He  was  liberally  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the 
Central  JSrew  York  Conference  Seminary  at  Cazenovia,  com- 
pleting his  study  of  the  ordinary  branches  in  1852.  During 
a  couple  of  years  subsequently  he  taught  school,  but  enter- 
taining a  penchant  for  the  legal  profession,  he  read  law  for 
several  years  in  the  office  of  Hon.  HENRY  GOODWIN  and 
D.  J.  MITCHELL,  of  Hamilton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1856.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  J.  B. 
ELDRIDGE,  at  Hamilton,  and  practiced  with  fair  success  until 


EDWARD  C.  PHILI>OT.  273 

the  partnership  was  dissolved  in  1858.  During  the  next  two 
years  he  practiced  law  with  Col.  JOHN"  T.  PHILPOT,  his 
brother,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Owing  to  poor  health  he  finally 
returned  to  Eaton,  however,  and  settled  down  to  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming.  He  also  practices  law,  and  is  a  Railroad 
Commissioner  of  his  town. 

Mr.  PHILPOT  has  been  active  and  prominent  in  Madison 
county  politics  for  a  long  period,  having  been  a  delegate  to 
every  county  and  district  convention  for  the  last  ten  years. 
He  has  also  been  a  delegate  to  State  Conventions,  and  as 
Supervisor,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Justice  of  Sessions,  and  now 
as  member  of  Assembly,  bids  fair  to  perform  his  full  share 
of  public  service.  Soon  after  his  return  from  Ohio  he  was 
elected  Supervisor  for  the  town  of  Eaton,  and  served  two  years 
in  the  board.  In  1864  he  was  chosen  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and 
has  filled  the  office  ever  since.  In  1867  he  was  also  elected 
Justice  of  Sessions,  holding  the  office  until  1869.  Last  fall 
he  received  a  majority  of  1,525  for  the  Assembly,  P.  ADELBERT 
BUEDICK  being  the  opposing  candidate.  Mr.  PHILPOT'S  first 
vote  was  cast  for  Joirx  C.  FKEMOVT  for  President.  Since 
then  he  has  steadily  labored  and  voted  for  the  success  of 
Republican  principles  and  candidates.  Mr.  P.  is  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Petitions  of  Aliens,  and  a  member  of 
the  Committee  on  Privileges  and  Elections.  He  is  a  bachelor, 
and  weighs  200  pounds. 

18 


LIFE  SKETCHES. 


HENRY  R.  PIERSOK 


The  Second  district  of  Albany  county  has  of  late  adopted 
the  commendable  rule  of  sending  her  best  men  to  the 
Assembly.  To  this  class,  in  whatever  way  we  may  regard 
him,  Mr.  PIERSOX  assuredly  belongs.  He  is  decided!}7  the 
most  conspicuous  man  in  the  Assembly,  and  his  prominence 
in  the  public  mind  is  due  entirely  to  his  exalted, personal 
attributes.  He  is  emphatically  one  of  those  men  who,  by 
self-reliance,  ability,  and  force  of  character,  achieve  a  meas- 
ure of  success  of  which  many,  more  favored  by  fortune, 
come  short.  Born  in  Charleston,  Montgomery  countv,  in 
this  State,  on  the  13th  of  January,  1819,  of  poor  and 
obscure,  but  respectable  family,  he  inherited  nothing  but 
the  sterling  honesty  which  characterized  his  parents,  and  his 
early  opportunities  for  acquiring  an  education  were  con- 
lined  to  those  obtainable,  with  little  regularity,  in  a  country 
school-house.  When  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one,  how- 
ever, being  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  he  left  home. 
His  first  care,  on  finding  himself  his  own  master,  was  to 
make  up,  as  far  as  possible,  for  his  educational  deficiencies. 
He  therefore  labored  industriously,  studied  hard,  and  by 
teaching  school,  and  with  trifling  outside  aid.  he  finally 
attained  the  object  of  his  ambition.  He  entered  Union  Col- 
lege in  1843,  and  graduated  in  July,  184G,  with  full  honors, 
being  in  the  class  with  ex-Governor  Joiix  T. -HOFFMAN,  and 
other  men  who  have  since  reached  eminence.  He  chose  the 
law  as  his  profession,  and  removed  to  Xew  York  in  1847. 
Being  without  fortune,  friends  or  influence,  it  was  up-hill 
work  with  him  at  first,  but  his  unconquerable  spirit  soon 
surmounted  those  obstacles  which  often  fatally  discourage 
young  men  on  entering  the  crowded  city.  He  studied  faith- 
fully, and  in  May,  1848.  his  zeal  and  ability  were  rewarded 
by  his  admission  to  the  bar.  He  at  once  engaged  in  active 


HENRY  R.  PIEKSO\.  275 

practice,  and  was  known  as  one  of  the  most  promisiag 
young  lawyers  of  the  metropolis.  lie  formed  a  partnership 
with  Hon.  ABIJAH  MAXX,  Avhich  continued  several  years, 
during  which  he  established  a  good  reputation. 

In  1849  he  removed  to  Brooklyn  and  immediately  inter- 
ested himself  in  public  affairs  to  that  extent  that  he  soon 
became  a  prominent  and  influential  citizen.  Warmly  attached 
to  the  Whig  cause  at  that  time,  he  allied  himself  with  the 
Republicans  as  soon  as  the  new  party  was  organized,  and 
has  consistently  adhered  to  it  up  to  the  present  time.  The 
prominence  he  attained  and  his  splendid  abilities  caused  him 
to  be  selected  as  the  standard  bearer  of  the  party  in  numer- 
ous political  contests,  and  it  has  been  well  for  him,  and  well 
for  the  communities  in  which  he  has  resided,  that  he  pos- 
sessed a  physical  and  mental  organization  which  singularly 
fitted  him  to  stand  in  the  fore-front  of  the  hottest  party 
fights. 

The  first  position  held  by  him  was  that  of  member  of  the 
Brooklyn  Board  of  Education.  He  was  appointed  to  that 
office  by  the  mayor  and  aldermen  in  1854,  and  served  until 
1857.  Mr.  PIEESO>*  fully  recognized  the  importance  of  the 
trust  confided  to  him,  and  performed  his  duties  with  tact  and 
judgment.  He  was  re-appointed  in  I860,  and  held  the  posi- 
tion as  long  as  he  resided  in  the  city.  In  1857  he  was  elected 
Alderman  of  the  Third  ward  of  Brooklyn,  and  represented 
the  interests  of  the  ward  for  three  years,  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  a  large,  wealthy  and  intelligent  constituency. 
His  position  in  the  municipal  legislature  was  one  of  com- 
manding influence,  and  for  a  year  and  a  half  he  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  In  1857  he  was  the 
Republican  candidate  for  State  Senator  for  the  Second  dis- 
trict, and  was  defeated  by  the  Democratic  candidate.  Mr. 
GARDIXKR,  by  about  forty  votes.  Irregularities,  amounting 
in  some  instances  to  positive  fraud,  wen'  alleged  to  have 
occurred  in  connection  with  the  election,  and  Mr.  PIERSON 
was  urged,  by  his  political  friends,  to  contest  the  seat.  lie. 


276  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

however,  declined  to  do  so,  preferring  to  owe  Senatorial 
honors  to  the  will  of  the  people,  clearly  expressed  in  a  major- 
ity vote,  rather  than  to  a  technical  question  of  regularity. 
In  1868  that  will  was  thus  expressed,  by  a  handsome  majority, 
in  a  district  usually  regarded  as  close  and  doubtful.  In  that 
year  Mr.  PIERSOX  was  elected  over  CALVIN  E.  PRATT,  the 
Democratic  candidate,  by  a  majority  of  1,097.  His  services 
in  the  Senate  are  forgotten  neither  by  his  constituents  nor 
by  the  State  at  large.  He  participated  in  the  important  dis- 
cussions occurring  during  his  stay  at  the  Capital  witli  signal 
ability,  and  showed  those  qualities  of  the  true  statesman 
which  have  since  been  more  fully  developed. 

In  1860,  Mr.  PIERSOX  retired  from  the  legal  profession, 
and  was  chosen  President  of  the  Brooklyn  City  Eailroad, 
and  henceforth  became  actively  identified  with  the  great  and 
rapidly  growing  railroad  interests  of  the  country.  He  held 
this  office  until  1869,  Avhen  he  was  elected  Financial  Agent 
of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Eailroad  Company.  This 
necessitated  his  removal  to  Chicago,  and  he  was  soon  after 
made  Vice-President  of  the  same  company,  retaining,  how- 
ever, the  position  of  Financial  Agent.  This  office  he  held 
two  years,  when,  on  being  chosen  Resident  Executive  Direc- 
tor of  the  Xew  York  Central  and  Hudson  Eiver  Eailroad.  he 
removed  to  Albany,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Besides  the  positions  of  a  business  and  political  nature 
already  mentioned,  Mr.  PIERSON  has  held  several  important 
trusts  of  an  honorary  character,  educational  and  otherwise. 
In  July,  1870,  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  Union  College,  his 
alma  mater,  and  was  also  chosen  as  a  trustee  of  the  Albany 
Medical  College,  but  he  resigned  both  positions  on  being 
elected  Eegent  of  the  University  by  the  Legislature  of  1872, 
to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Hon.  ERAS- 
TUS  CORXING.  He  is  now,  however,  Trustee  of  the  Dudley 
Observatory  at  Albany,  and  also  of  the  State  Inebriate  Asy- 
lum at  Binghamton. 

It  seems  superfluous  to  observe  that  in  all  these  positions 


JAMES  G.  PORTEOUS.  277 

Mr.  PIERSON  has  shown  conspicuous  ability,  rare  capacity, 
and  large  mental  powers.  In  every  situation  requiring  exec- 
utive talent,  prompt  and  unerring  judgment,  and  discrimi- 
nating tact,  he  is  at  home.  A  keen  observer,  a  rapid  reasoner, 
and  an  acute  thinker,  he  certainly  seems  fitted  to  occupy 
more  exalted  places  of  trust  than  any  he  has  yet  been  called 
to  fill. 

In  the  Assembly  he  was  accorded  a  prominent  position 
from  the  start,  being  assigned  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the 
Committee  on  Cities,  and  the  second  place  on  the  Railroad 
Committee.  He  therefoi-e  wields  an  influence  second  to  that 
of  no  other  member  of  the  present  House.  He  is  a  man 
of  large  frame  and  dignified  presence,  and  is  full  of  healthful 
vitality.  His  profusion  of  silvery  hair  gives  him  a  venerable 
appearance  beyond  his  years.  Of  unruffled  disposition,  warm, 
social  qualities,  hearty  and  pleasant  manners,  he  certainly 
possesses  all  the  characteristics  which  win  popularity.  He  is 
an  excellent  debater,  fluent,  clear,  sensible,  unostentatious, 
frequen-tly  brilliantly  eloquent.  He  lays  down  his  proposi- 
tions vigorously  and  plainly,  and  always  commands  the  atten- 
tion of  the  House. 


JAMES  G.  PORTEOUS. 


JAMES  GEORGE  PORTEOUS,  who  represents  Warren  county 
in  the  present  Assembly,  is  a  physician  of  twenty  years' 
practice,  and  so  thorough  and  reliable  is  he  in  his  professional 
capacity,  that  he  is  admitted  to  be  '•  the  best  physician  in 
Warren  county/'  He  was  born  in  Moriah,  Essex  county,  on 
the  3d  of  January,  1839,  his  father  being  ANDREW  POR- 
TEOUS, who  is  still  living.  He  received  a  liberal  education, 
graduating  from  Harvard  University  in  1862.  In  August 
of  the  same  year  he  received  the  appointment  of  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  118th  Regiment  Xew  York  Volunteers.  While- 


278  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

with  this  regiment,  and  subsequently,  he  greatly  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  bravery  and  coolness  in  action, 
making  it  his  invariable  practice  to  accompany  the  command 
wherever  it  went,  nobly  sharing  in  its  dangers  and  priva- 
tions on  the  march  and  under  fire.  He  was  in  many  of  the 
battles  and  campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
served  throughout  with  the  Army  of  the  James,  being  espe- 
cially conspicuous  at  South  Anna,  siege  of  Suffolk,  City 
Point,  Drury's  Bluff,  Coal  Harbor,  second  Fair  Oaks,  Chapiir  s 
Farm,  Fort  Harrison,  Petersburgh  and  Five  Forks.  He  was 
known  in  the  army  as  the  "  Fighting  Surgeon,"  and  his 
bravery  on  the  occasion  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Harrison, 
while  his  regiment  formed  a  portion  of  the  Army  of  the 
James,  elicited  the  following  complimentary  mention  in  the 
general  orders  of  the  commanding  officer,  Gen.  BUTLER  : 

-  Assistant  Surgeon,  J.  G.  PORTEOUS,  118th  X.  Y.  V., 
deserves  the  highest  credit  for  his  bravery  and  attention  to 
duties,  being  the  only  surgeon  in  the  brigade  advancing  with 
his  regiment  in  charging  column." 

After  the  close  of  the  James  River  campaign,  Dr.  POR- 
TEOUS was  promoted  to  Surgeon,  and  transferred  to  the  46th 
Regiment  1ST.  Y.  Volunteers,  with  which  he  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war. 

On  his  return  home,  Dr.  PORTEOUS  settled  at  Luzerne, 
where  he  still  practices  his  profession  with  great  success. 
Though  always  an  enthusiastic  and  active  Republican,  he 
never  accepted  public  position  until  the  year  1869,  when  he 
was  chosen  Supervisor  of  Luzerne.  To  this  office  he  has 
been  twice  re-elected.  Last  fall  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
county  convention,  and  steadily  resisted  the  efforts  made  to 
induce  him  to  be  a  candidate  for  the  Assembly,  and  it 
Avas  only  when  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  convention  called 
upon  him  to  accept,  that  he  yielded.  He  was  elected  by 
a  decided  majority  in  a  county  sometimes  closely  contested, 
and  his  course,  since  he  has  been  a  member,  fully  justifies 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  constituents. 


L.  BRADFORD  PRINCE.  279 

Dr.  PORTEOUS  is  a  man  of  fine  presence  and  courteous 
demeanor,  with  warm,  social  instincts.  Quiet  and  unassum- 
ing in  manner,  a  man  of  few  words,  but  sound  judgment, 
his  natural  abilities  and  finely  cultured  mind  inspire  respect,' 
and  render  him  competent  to  fill  any  position  in  life.  He 
also  unites  with  those  qualities  strict  principles  and  unas- 
sailable integrity. 


L.  BRADFORD  PRINCE. 


In  view  of  his  three  years'  record  as  a  legislator,  his  emi- 
nence in  the  legal  profession,  his  prominence  in  literature 
and  politics,  £id  his  honorable  connection  with  societies  and 
institutions  of  learning,  Mr.  PRINCE  may  be  regarded  as  one 
of  the  prominent  men  of  our  State.  A  finely  cultivated  gen- 
tleman, a  thorough  scholar,  a  brilliant  and  forcible  speaker, 
and  a  man  of  decided  and  advanced  opinions  in  most  depart- 
ments of  thought,  he  is  well  qualified  to  maintain  a  leading 
position  in  a  House  which  practically  recognizes  no  leader. 
Mr.  PRIXCE  was  born  in  Flushing,  his  present  place  of  resi- 
dence, on  the  3d  of  July,  1840.  He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Gov.  WM.  BRADFORD,  of  Plymouth,  one  of  the  "Men  of  the 
Mayflower,"  and  inherits  many  of  the  sturdy  virtues  of  his 
Puritan  ancestry.  Both  his  grandfather  and  great-grand- 
father, on  the  maternal  side,  were  Governors  of  Rhode  Island, 
and,  on  the  paternal  side,  he  conies  of  the  well-known 
PRIXCE  family,  of  horticultural  fame.  After  spending  much 
of  his  youth  in  South  Carolina  and  Florida  in  search  of 
health,  lie  was  engaged  for  a  short  time  in  horticultural  pur- 
suits at  Flushing,  but  his  tastes  leading  him  to  the  law,  he 
entered  Columbia  Law  School,  from  which  lie  graduated 
with  the  highest  honors,  receiving  the  8200  prize  in  Politi- 
cal Science.  In  18G8  he  was  complimented  by  being  chosen 
as  the  Alumni  orator,  and  is  now  President  of  the  Alumni 


280  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Association  of  the  Law  School.  As  a  lawyer,  he  stands 
high,  being  a  clear  and  incisive  reasoner,  and  possessing  rare 
ability  as  an  advocate.  He  indulges  in  very  little  fanciful 
rhetoric,  relying  mainly  upon  carefully  presented  facts  and 
skillfully  digested  deductions  therefrom. 

Mr.  PKINCE'S  political  career  reaches  over  a  period  of 
more  than  sixteen  years,  extending  through  the  whole  his- 
tory of  the  Kepublican  party.  His  interest  in  political  mat- 
ters early  developed  itself,  and  as  long  ago  as  1856  —  in  the 
Fremont  campaign  —  he  was  an  active  writer  and  worker, 
receiving  a  special  vote  of  thanks  from  the  town  club,  of 
which  he  was  too  young  to  be  a  member.  In  1860,  though 
still  not  a  voter,  he  acted  as  officer  of  the  local  organization, 
delegate,  speaker,  etc.,  enthusiastically  supporting  the  Lincoln 
ticket.  Since  that  time  he  has  always  been  actively  engaged 
in  political  work,  though  living  in  a  county  where  the  heavy 
Democratic  majority  precluded  all  expectation  of  personal 
advancement;  and,  as  a  political  speaker,  is  well  known  in 
many  sections  of  the  State.  Twelve  years  ago  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Kepublican  Committee  of  Queens  county, 
and  has  been  its  presiding  officer  for  several  years.  He  was 
also  u  delegate  to  the  Chicago  National  Convention  in  1868, 
and  in  the  following  year  a  member  of  the  State  Committee. 
He  was  first  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1870,  when  he 
received  a  majority  of  1,415,  although  the  district  is  about 
600  Democratic. 

Mr.  PRIXCE'S  popularity,  in  fact,  has  never  been  bounded 
by  party  lines,  men  of  all  shades  of  political  belief  recogniz- 
ing the  fact  that  his  splendid  abilities  are  available  for  the 
welfare  of  the  whole  people.  Though  not  entirely  unknown 
in  the  State  at  large  when  he  entered  the  Assembly,  his 
talents  commanded  speedy  recognition  in  that  body,  and  his 
skill  as  a  debater  and  his  legislative  efficiency  were  soon  appar- 
ent. In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  again  placed  in  nomination, 
and  though  his  opponent  was  the  strongest  Democrat  in  the 
district,  and  a  man  who  had  served  two  terms  in  the  Assem- 


L.  BRADFORD  PRIXCE.  281 

bly  and  one  in  the  State  Senate,  Mr.  PRINCE  received  a 
majority  of  1,169.  In  the  fall. of  1872  he  received  the  extra- 
ordinary compliment  of  a  request  for  his  continuance  in 
office,  signed  by  over  two  thousand  voters  irrespective  of 
party.  He  was  thereupon  nominated  by  acclamation,  and 
elected  without  opposition.  Such  tribute  to  high  personal 
character  and  exceptional  official  fidelity,  is  rarely  extended 
to  a  public  man,  and  all  who  know  Mr.  P.  will  readily  admit 
that  it  was  in  every  way  deserved. 

His  service  in  the  Assembly  has  been  an  honorable  one. 
As  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  during  this  and 
the  last  sessions,  his  labors  have  not  only  been  multifarious 
and  arduous,  but  exceedingly  valuable  to  the  State.  It  was 
his  province  during  the  winter  of  1872  to  conduct  the  investi- 
gation into  the  official  conduct  of  Judges  BARXARD,  CAR- 
DOZO  and  McCuxx.  This  investigation  extended  from  Feb- 
ruary 19  to  April  10,  during  which  time  239  witnesses  were 
examined,  and  over  2,400  pages  of  evidence  taken.  The 
thoroughness  and  fairness  with  which  the  investigation  was 
prosecuted  secured  the  approbation  of  all  parties,  and  its 
results  form  the  brightest  page  in  the  history  of  the  last 
Legislature.  The  verdict  of  the  committee  was  so  evi- 
dently based  upon  justice  and  evidence,  that  it  met  with 
very  general  acquiescence.  The  report  in  favor  of  impeach- 
ing two  of  the  judges  and  removing  the  other,  was  adopted 
by  the  House,  and  in  the  choice  of  managers  to  conduct 
the  impeachment  trial,  which,  as  is  known,  resulted  in  the 
disgrace  of  Judge  BARXAUD.  Mr.  PRIXCE  received  110  of  the 
113  votes  cast  by  the  House,  the  others  chosen  varying  from 
104  to  50  each.  He  was  also  appointed  to  proceed  to  the 
Senate  and  formally  impeach  Judge  BARXARD  at  its  bar,  for 
high  crimes  and  misdemeanors.  He  was  active  in  the  mat- 
ter until  the  trial  closed,  and  it  is  probablv  due  to  him  more 
than  any  other  one  man,  that  the  Judiciary  of  the  State  was 
relieved  of  the  disgrace  that  would  have  attended  BARXARD'S 
retention  on  the  Bench. 


282  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

In  the  present  session,  besides  the  Chairmanship  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee  (\vhich  .Committee  annually  considers 
nearly  four  hundred  bills,  having  over  one-quarter  of  the 
legislation  of  the  State  referred  to  it),  he  is  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Local  and  Special  Laws,  and  a  member  of  the 
Joint  Library  Committee. 

It  is  not  alone,  however,  in  the  field  of  politics  or  law 
that  Mr.  PRIXCE  has  won  honor  and  fame.  He  is  well 
known,  also,  as  a  thoughtful  Avriter  and  lecturer  on  various 
topics,  among  which,  perhaps,  those  relating  to  Legislative 
and  Governmental  Keform  have  attracted  the  widest  notice. 
Several  years  ago  he  wrote  a  work  entitled  "E  Pluribus 
Unum,  or,  American  Nationality,"  which  passed  through 
several  editions,  and  was  warmly  commended  by  statesmen 
and  political  scientists.  Last  winter  he  delivered  a  lecture 
in  Xew  York  and  several  other  cities,  in  which  some  of  the 
evils  of  the  present  system  of  law-making  were  severely 
handled.  He  inveighed  very  strongly,  in  particular,  against 
the  tendency  to  burden  the  Legislature  with  a  mass  of  spe- 
cial and  local  legislation,  compelling  much  of  the  important 
work  of  every  session  to  be  crudely  and  hastily  performed. 
His  suggestions  attracted  much  attention,  and  some  of  them, 
have  been  embodied  in  the  constitutional  amendments  now 
pending.  Mr.  PRIXCE  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  having  been  D.  D.  Grand  Master  of 
Queens  and  Suffolk  counties  for  three  terms.  For  ten  years 
he  was  Superintendent  or  Director  of  the  Queens  county 
Agricultural  Society,  and  during  eight  years  has  been  an 
officer  of  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society.  With  all  his 
attainments,  Mr.  PRIXCE  is  a  quiet,  courteous,  unassuming 
gentleman,  strictly  conscientious  in  all  his  dealings  with 
others,  and  it  is  evident  that  still  greater  honors  are  in  store 
for  him  in  the  future. 


BENJAMIN  RAY.  283 


BENJAMIN  RAY. 


The  member  from  the  First  district  of  Columbia  county  is 
one  of  the  old-fashioned  class  of  Democrats.  Sturdy  and 
uncompromising  in  his  character,  earnest  in  his  views,  and 
persistent  in  the  advocacy  of  what  he  deems  to  be  right  prin- 
ciples, he  is  well  knoAvn  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  State 
as  a  sound  and  reliable  member  of  the  party.  From  his 
youth  up  he  has  never  faltered  in  his  Democracy.  During 
the  divisions  of  the  party  previous  to  the  war  he  warmly 
espoused  the  Hunker  or  Hardshell  wing.  His  political 
faith  may  therefore  be  said  to  be  pure  and  unadulterated. 

Mr.  KAY  was  born  in  the  city  of  Hudson,  February  16, 1819. 
His  father,  now  dead,  was  Captain  SAMUEL  RAY,  a  native  of 
Dutchess  county,  and  in  his  day  a  well-known  shipmaster. 
Mr.  RAY'S  mother,  we  believe,  is  still  living,  at  a  very  advanced 
age.  Educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Hudson 
Academy,  Mr.  RAY  adopted  the  profession  of  engineering,  but 
has  not  recently  followed  it.  Until  a  few  months  ago  he 

*/  o 

owned  a  handsome  farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson,  upon 
which  he  spent  much  of  his  time  for  several  years  past,  but 
he  availed  himself  of  an  opportunity  to  dispose  of  it. 

Mr.  RAY'S  life  has  been  somewhat  checkered  and  replete 
with  incident.  Besides  those  mentioned  he  has  at  different 
times  tried  his  hand  at  a  number  of  employments.  He  has 
been  a  steamboat  builder,  a  navigator  on  the  Hudson,  and 
has  done  somethfng  at  blacksmi thing,  boiler-making,  and 
sundry  other  trades.  He  went  to  California  in  18-49.  working 
his  passage,  and  spent  several  years  in  San  Francisco,  where 
he  made  many  warm  friends,  and  held  an  important  public 
position  solely  because  of  his  capability  therefor,  being  polit- 
ically opposed  to  those  who  appointed  him.  The  climate  did 
not  agree  with  him,  however,  and  lie  returned  to  Xcw  York. 
He  remained  in  that  citv  until  about  five  voars  ?ince.  when 


284  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

he  located  in  Columbia  county,  and  still  resides  there, 
respected  and  honored.  He  is  quite  influential  in  the  local 
politics  of  that  county,  and  has  frequently  held  positions  of 
trust,  which  he  has  filled  with  credit.  As  the  result  of  his 
varied  experience,  and  the  buffetings  of  fortune,  Mr.  KAY  is 
a  man  of  iron  nerve  and  determined  purpose.  Yet  with  all 
his  rough  exterior  he  is  a  man  of  extremely  generous  im- 
pulses and  kindly  nature,  and  his  inbred  courtesy  of  manner 
is  extended  to  friends  and  opponents  alike.  He  is  now 
serving  his  fourth  term  in  the  Assembly,  having  been  a 
member  in  1856,  and  the  last  three  terms  being  consecutive. 
Mr.  RAY'S  voice  is  not  often  heard  in  debate,  but  he  is  capa- 
ble of  making  a  strong  common-sense  speech  on  almost  any 
topic,  and  is  thoroughly  posted  in  all  the  details  of  legis- 
lation. 


GEORGE  RAYNOR. 

The  member  from  the  Second  district  of  Onondaga  county 
is  a  quiet  man  of  business,  possessing  sound  sense  and  un- 
questioned capacity  for  legislative  duties.  This  is  his  first 
term  in  the  Assembly,  but  the  honorable  record  he  has  made 
thus  far  is  certainly  to  some  extent  an  earnest  that  it  will  not 
be  his  last.  He  Avas  born  in  Oswego,  December  14,  1816, 
and  is,  therefore,  about  fifty-seven  years  of  age.  He  is  of 
English  descent,  his  father,  JACOB  RAYNOR,  being  the  scion 
of  a  family  which  early  settled  on  Long  Island.  His  mother 
was  a  native  of  Washington  county,  in  this  State.  Both  his 
parents  have  been  dead  some  years. 

Young  RAYXOK  received  a  good  business  education,  partly 
in  a  common  school,  and  partly  in  the  Onondaga  Academy, 
under  the  tutelage  of  the  well-known  educator,  S.  B.  WOOL- 
WORTH.  After  leaving  school  in  1828,  he  spent  several  years 
as  a  clerk,  and  about  the  year  1841  he  became  an  assistant  in 


&EORGE  RAYNOR.  285 

the  Syracuse  post-office.  He  entered  energetically  upon  his 
duties,  and  made  postal  matters  a  study  to  such  a  degree  that 
he  has  been  almost  continuously  in  the  service  of  the  depart- 
ment until  a  very  recent  period.  He  served  in  the  Syracuse 
office  until  1845,  when  he  became  a  mail  agent  on  the  route 
between  Albany  and  Buffalo,  and  served,  either  as  deputy  or 
principal,  from  1846  to  1865.  When  the  new  post-office 
cars  came  into  use  he  was  selected  as  one  of  the  postal  clerks 
between  New  York  and  Buffalo,  and  acted  as  such  during 
the  years  1870  and  1871.  He  is  largely  interested  in  build- 
ing and  street-car  enterprises  in  Syracuse,  and  though  he 
resides  in  Onondaga,  the  Saline  City  is  virtually  his  business 
home.  . 

Mr.  RAYXOR'S  political  life  has  been  active  and  honorable. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  WM.  H.  SEWARD,  in  1838,  and 
thenceforward  he  consistently  acted  with  the  Whigs  until 
the  party  dissolved.  Then  he  became  a  Republican,  and  we 
are  safe  in  asserting  that  Onondaga  county  has  few  men  who 
have  worked  harder  or  more  zealously  for  the  cause  than 
Mr.  RAYXOR.  He  is,  in  fact,  always  ready  to  do  his  whole 
political  duty,  and  has,  therefore,  been  for  many  years  prom- 
inently identified  with  Onondaga  county  politics.  For  the 
most  part  he  has  preferred  to  do  his  work  in  the  ranks,  but 
he  has  occasionally  held  offices  of  a  local  nature,  and  invari- 
ably filled  them  with  credit.  During  two  years,  in  1864  and 
1865,  he  was  Supervisor  of  the  town  of  Onondaga.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  442.  after  an  excit- 
ing canvass,  and  is  assigned  to  the  Committees  on  Canals, 
and  State  Charitable  Institutions. 

Mr.  RAYXOR  was  married,  in  1848,  to  CORDELIA  HALL,  a 
daughter  of  Judge  JOHXSOX  HALL,  of  Syracuse.  Unob- 
trusive in  disposition,  agreeable  in  manners,  strictly  just  and 
honest  in  all  his  relations,  and.  withal,  a  man  of  keen  judg- 
ment and  great  ability,  the  member  we  have  thus  brieflv 
sketched  needs  no  graces  of  oratory  to  constitute  him  a  val- 
uable and  effective  legislator. 


286  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


ELEAZER  C.  RICE. 


The  member  from  Herkimer  was  born  in  Salisbury.  Her- 
kimer  county,  on  the  26th  of  March,  1827,  and  has  there- 
fore reached  the  age  of  full  manly  vigor.  He  was  educated 
at  Fairfield  Academy,  in  the  same  county,  but  he  chose  an 
agricultural  life,  and,  during  his  adult  years,  has  farmed  and 
dealt  in  real  estate  with  considerable  success.  He  has 
mingled  much  in  political  affairs,  and  has  uniformly  enjoyed 
the  confidence  of  his  party  and  the  country  in  large  degree. 
He  held  the  office  of  Commissioner  of  Highways  three 
years,  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  twelve  years,  and  Supervisor 
three  years.  In  these  positions  he  exhibited  marked  ability 
and  integrity  of  character.  He  was  a  Democrat  previous  to 
1856,  but  since  that  time  he  has  acted  with  the  Republican 
party,  never  missing  an  opportunity  to  vote  for  its  candi- 
dates. In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly 
by  a  majority  of  1,063,  and  his  career  was  so  entirely  satis- 
factory to  his  constituents  that  he  was  returned  last  fall  by 
a  majority  of  1,101,  his  opponent  being  GEORGE  A.  FEETER, 
a  well-known  Liberal  Republican,  of  Little  Falls.  Mr.  RICE 
was  married  in  1851,  to  Miss  SARAH  A.  IXGHAM.  He  pos- 
sesses plenty  of  tact  and  judgment,  and  is,  withal,  a  culti- 
vated and  agreeable  gentleman. 


DOMINICK  H.  ROCHE.  287 


DOMINICK  H.  ROCHE. 


Mr.  ROCHE,  from  the  Third  district  of  Kings,  is  well 
known  among  the  politicians  of  the  State,  especially  those 
of  New  York  and  Brooklyn,  having,  for  a  number  of  years, 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  political  contests  of  the  latter 
city,  and,  for  three  years  past,  forming  part  of  its  representa- 
tion in  the  Assembly.  He  is  a  young  man,  full  of  fire  and 
vigor,  and  belongs  to  what  is  commonly  regarded  as  the 
Tammany  school  of  Democracy.  He  was  born  in  Cork, 
Ireland,  in  1834.  Twelve  years  later  he  came  to  New  York 
with  his  parents,  and  was  subsequently  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  city.  He  then  commenced  his  business 
life  as  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  dry  goods  house.  His  industry 
and  integrity  were  appreciated  by  his  employer,  and  he 
rapidly  rose  to  the  position  of  chief  book-keeper  and  cashier. 
He  was,  in  fact,  on  the  point  of  securing  admission  as  a  part- 
ner in  the  concern,  when  the  financial  crisis,  following  the 
political  troubles  of  I860,  forced  the  firm  into  bankruptcy, 
in  consequence  of  its  heavv  southern  losses.  He  was  already 

»/  j 

a  resident  of  Brooklyn,  having  removed  thither  in  1854,  and 
he  speedily  obtained  employment  in  adjusting  the  accounts 
of  the  city  sinking  fund,  which  had  become  greatly  involved. 
Completing  this  task  satisfactorily  he  was  offered  and  accepted 
a  responsible  position  in  the  Register's  office  of  Brooklyn, 
and  in  18G3  he  became  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  City 
Assessors,  an  office  which  he  still  holds.  He  \vas  an  active 
member  of  the  old  volunteer  Fire  Department  until  it  ceased 
to  exist,  and  always  evinced  a  warm  interest  in  its  welfare. 
In  1803.  he  was  elected  Trustee  of  the  Fire  Department 
Widows  and  Orphans'  Benefit  Fund,  of  which  board  he  was 
President  for  several  years,  and  is  now  Chairman  of  the  Law 
Committee.  He  has  been  elected  to  the  Assembly,  each  time 
by  large  majorities,  receiving  in  18TO,  a  plurality  of  .">10  over 


288  LIFK  SKETCHES. 

two  candidates.  His  majority  in  1871  was  5,182  over 
CHRISTIAN,  the  Republican  candidate,  and  he  was  chosen 
last  fall  by  a  vote  of  2,914  against  1,715  for  SAMUEL  B. 
VREELAXD,  Republican,  and  1,400  and  1,285  for  two  inde- 
pendent candidates.  His  course  in  the  Assembly  has,  we 
believe,  been  eminently  satisfactory  to  his  constituents,  and, 
indeed,  no  better  proof  would  be  desired  on  that  point  than 
the  decided  popular  majorities  mentioned  above.  He  is  a 
warm  friend  of  local  improvements,  and,  when  he  assumes 
to  champion  a  cause  in  the  Legislature,  he  devotes  to  it  all 
his  energies,  and  frequently  carries  his  point  through  sheer 
momentum.  His  speeches,  though  unquestionably  lacking 
in  finished  rhetorical  eloquence,  are  always  terse  and  logical, 
and  bristle  with  facts  and  figures,  items  which  more  eloquent 
opponents  frequently  find  it  hard  to  controvert.  During  his 
three  years'  service,  Mr.  ROCHE  has  served  on  the  Commit- 
tees on  Railroads,  Charitable  and  Religious  Societies,  Joint 
Library,  Petitions  of  Aliens,  Privileges  and  Elections,  and 
Public  Printing. 


PARKER  W.  ROSE. 


ISTo  man  in  the  Assembly  bears  a  greater  reputation  for 
sturdy  honesty,  and  those  qualities  which  denote  the  states- 
man and  patriot,  than  PARKER  TV.  ROSE.  His  countenance, 
seamed  and  marked  Avitli  rugged  angularity,  is  an  unerring 
index  to  the  clear  brain  and  keen  intellect  which  it  masks, 
and.  though  he  is  not  given  to  bold  flights  of  eloquence,  his 
voice  is  always  raised,  when  occasion  requires,  in  behalf  of 
sound  public  policy  and  honest  legislation.  He  is  the  especial 
champion  of  economy  in  the  public  service,  and  no  measure 
which  contemplates  a  needless  or  wanton  expenditure  of  the 
public  funds  can  hope  to  escape  either  his  vigilance  or  his 
earnest  protest. 


PARKER  W.  ROSE.  289 

Mr.  ROSE  was  born  in  Stockholm,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
on  the  29th  of  March,  1812,  and  is  consequently  about  sixty 
years  of  age,  but  he  comes  of  a  hardy  stock,  and  physically 
and  mentally  he  is  as  vigorous  as  the  average  of  men  at  forty- 
five.  His  father,  DANIEL  P.  ROSE,  was  born  in  Coventry, 
and  is  of  English  ancestry.  Mr.  ROSE'S  educational  oppor- 
tunities in  early  youth  were  somewhat  limited,  being  mainly 
such  as  could  be  obtained  at  the  common  school  during  the 
winter  season.  But  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  studious, 
and  when  this  was  finally  supplemented  by  a  brief  term  at 
the  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  he  was  abundantly  competent  to 
fill  the  position  of  a  teacher  in  a  district  school,  and  spent 
several  years  in  that  capacity.  Teaching  was  not  to  his 
liking,  however,  and  he  soon  relinquished  it.  Shortly  after 
attaining  his  majority,  he  engaged  in  the  pursuit  in  which 
much  of  his  youth  was  passed —  that  of  farming ;  and  to  this, 
in  later  years,  he  added  manufacturing.  All  his  business 
affairs  have  been  managed  with  such  prudence  and  sagacity 
that  he  possesses  a  comfortable  competence  as  the  reward  of 
well-directed  and  honest  industry. 

Mr.  ROSE  has  been  an  earnest  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Baptist  church  since  his  youth,  having  made  a  public 
profession  and  consecration  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  During  a 
period  of  nearly  thirty-four  years  he  was  Superintendent  of 
the  Baptist  Sabbath  School  at  Parishville.  He  was  married 
to  CYXTHIA  PUTNAM  in  November,  1837.  She  died  in 
February,  1852,  while  he  was  a  member  of  Assembly,  Avhen 
he  was  married  in  April,  1853,  to  Miss  JULIANA  BEECHEK, 
who  is  still  living.  Mr.  ROSE  has  frequently  filled  positions 
of  a  public  nature.  During  six  years  he  was  a  member  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  county  Board  of  Supervisors,  acting  one 
year  as  its  Chairman.  In  1852  he  was  a  member  of  Assembly, 
serving  on  the  Committee  on  Grievances.  He  was  re-elected 
next  year,  when  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Internal  Affairs,  and  also  acted  as  Chairman  of  the  Demo- 
cratic caucus.  In  1ST2  he  was  returned  under  different 
19 


290  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

political  auspices,  having  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its 
formation  in  1854.  Previous  to  that  year  he  acted  with  the 
Free  Soil  wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  During  the  last 
session  Mr.  R.  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Grievances, 
and  the  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole,  and  a  member  of  the 
Committee  on  Federal  Relations.  So  entirely  satisfactory 
was  his  course  that  he  was  renominated  last  fall  by  acclama- 
tion, and  beat  his  opponent,  HOEACE  BICKNELL,  a  "  Liberal," 
by  the  very  large  majority  of  2,120.  He  is  still  Chairman  of 
the  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole,  and  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Expenditures  of  the  Executire  Department. 


JAMES  RYAN. 


JAMES  RYAN  represents  ward  seven  of  New  York  city, 
which  constitutes  the  Fourth  Assembly  District  of  the 
metropolis.  He  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  635  over  his 
Apollo  Hall  opponent,  John  Galvin.  He  is  of  Irish  descent, 
is  an  inflexible  adherent  of  the  Tammany  wing  of  the  Democ- 
racy, and  is  a  man  of  large  social  instincts,  agreeable  man- 
ners, and  much  ability  as  a  legislator.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Committees  on  Internal  Affairs,  and  Expenditures  of  the 
Executive  Department. 


PETER  SCHOONMAKER. 


Mr.  SCIIOONMAKEK  belongs  to  a  class  of  intelligent  and 
substantial  farmers  found  in  every  section  of  the  State,  who 
are  really  among  our  best  citizens.  A  man  of  strict  integ- 
rity, excellent  social  virtues  and  practical  good  sense,  he  more 
than  balances  any  lack  of  superficial  polish  by  sterling  traits 
of  character,  and  those  inborn  instincts  which  constitute  the 


PETER  SCHOONMAKER.  291 

true  gentleman.  He  was  born  in  Knox,  Albany  county,  June 
20,  1827,  his  father,  CHRISTIAN  SCHOONMAKER,  being  also  a 
native  of  that  town.  He  was  brought  up  in  the  old  home- 
stead, and  has  never  left  it,  being  content  to  follow  in  his 
father's  footsteps  and  cultivate  the  paternal  acres.  He 
received  a  liberal  common  school  education,  however,  and 
has  taken  pains  to  make  himself  thoroughly  informed  upon 
all  the  prominent  subjects  of  human  thought.  He  is  there- 
fore a  man  of  prominence  in  his  quiet  rural  hamlet,  and  has 
frequently  been  selected  to  fill  positions  which  ought  to  fall 
to  the  lot  of  the  very  best  men  in  every  community.  During 
a  period  of  seven  years  he  represented  the  town  of  Knox  in 
the  Albany  Board  of  Supervisors,  making  his  influence  felt 
in  a  marked  degree  in  favor  of  economy  and  prudence  in  the 
management  of  the  county  finances.  He  is  also  President  of 
the  Knox  Insurance  Company,  and  a  Trustee  of  the  Knox- 
ville  Academy.  Living  in  a  district  which  has  generally 
been  quite  evenly  divided,  politically,  Mr.  SCHOONMAKER  has 
always  been  an  active  worker  in  the  Republican  ranks,  and 
has  rendered  efficient  service  to  the  party  since  its  first  organ- 
ization, previous  to  which  he  was  a  Whig.  Though  he  has 
never  been  an  anxious  seeker  for  office,  he  has  seldom  felt  at 
liberty  to  decline  the  public  honors  which  have  from  time  to 
time  been  urged  upon  him.  Last  fall  he  was  somewhat 
reluctant  to  accept  an  Assembly  nomination,  but  his  friends 
overcame  his  scruples  and  elected  him  by  the  largest  majority 
ever  given  to  any  candidate  in  the  district,  defeating  COR- 
NELIUS BAKER,  a  popular  Democrat,  by  980  votes.  Quiet 
and  unassuming  in  deportment,  but  possessing  decided  prac- 
tical ability  as  well  as  legislative  knowledge.  Mr.  SCHOON- 
MAKER is  a  valuable  member  in  a  House  which  admittedly 
contains  more  than  an  average  degree  of  talent.  He  is  an 
industrious  member  of  the  Committees  on  Agriculture.  Civil 
Divisions,  and  Privileges  and  Elections.  He  was  married  on 
the  7th  of  August.  1850,  to  Miss*EMELiKE  WOLFORD.  and  has 
two  children. 


292  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


SOLON  B.  SMITH. 


Mr.  SMITH  is  one  of  the  youngest  members  of  the  Assem- 
bly, being  twenty-three  years  old  this  spring.  His  father  and 
mother  were  both  natives  of  New  York  city,  where  he  was 
born  on  the  4th  of  April,  1850.  He  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  is  now  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  and  provision 
house  in  the  metropolis.  Though  his  political  career  has 
necessarily  been  short,  he  has  become  quite  well  known  in  his 
district  as  an  active  Republican,  and  since  he  reached  his 
majority  he  has  been  President  of  the  District  Association. 
He  possesses  ability,  however,  and  he  may  yet  attain  fame 
and  profit  in  the  field  of  politics. 


JOHN  L.  SNYDER. 


Few  members  of  the  present  Assembly  enjoy  a  greater 
degree  of  personal  popularity  than  Mr.  JOHN  L.  SNYDEB,  of 
Rensselaer.  His  political  career  is  in  some  respects  remarkable. 
Although  he  has  been  but  about  five  years  in  the  arena  of 
politics,  he  has  already  served  nearly  two  terms  in  the 
Assembly,  been  a  delegate  to  a  State  Convention,  and  won 
an  enduring  reputation  as  a  man  of  good  principles,  excellent 
business  capacity,  and  undoubted  skill  in  the  manipulation 
of  party  details.  His  popularity  at  home  is  very  great. 
Being  a  native  and  life-long  resident  of  the  town  where  he 
lives,  he  is  intimately  identified  with  its  prosperity  and  pro 
gress,  and  has  given  his  best  efforts  to  its  welfare.  In  twice 
selecting  him  as  their  representative  in  the  Assembly,  in  pref- 
erence to  older  and  more  experienced,  though  perhaps  less 
active  men,  his  constituents  have  not  only  honored  them- 


JOHN  L.  SNYDER.  293 

selves,  but  shown  good  sense.  The  adage  "old  men  for  coun- 
sel, young  men  for  action,"  is  evidently  highly  regarded  in 
Mr.  SNYDER'S  bailiwick,  and  while  he  is  certainly  the  man 
to  act  wisely  and  promptly  at  the  proper  time,  we  are  sure  he 
does  not  despise  the  invaluable  counsel  of  his  elders  in  the 
party  at  home. 

JOHN  LANSING  SNYDER  was  born  at  Pittstown,  Rensse- 
laer  county,  on  the  24th  of  November,  1846.  He  is  there- 
fore about  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  ranks  among  the 
youngest  members  of  the  Assembly.  The  parents  of  Mr. 
SNYDER  were  of  German  extraction,  but  they  were  old  resi- 
dents of  Pittstowu,  residing  there  for  a  period  of  time 
'•"whereof  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the  contrary." 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  received  the  rudiments  of  an  Eng- 
lish common  school  education  in  his  own  town,  and  subse- 
quently pursued  the  higher  branches  of  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion at  the  Fort  Edward  Institute.  He  also  perfected  him- 
self in  the  elements  of  a  business  education  in  one  of  Bryant 
&  Stratton's  commercial  colleges.  His  father  was  a  sub- 
stantial farmer,  and  in  the  intervals  of  gaining  an  education 
the  son  was  inured  to  the  same  honorable  pursuit.  In  1868, 
however,  Mr.  SNYDER  availed  himself  of  an  excellent 
business  opening  in  New  York  city,  and  became  the  leading 
and  managing  partner  in  a  wholesale  produce  and  commis- 
sion house.  In  this  he  was  successful  beyond  even  his  own 
sanguine  hopes;  but  the  death  of  his  father  in  1870  com- 
pelled the  relinquishment  of  his  metropolitan  connection 
and  his  return  to  the  paternal  homestead.  From  that  time 
forward  he  has  resided  at  Pittstown,  where  he  supervises  his 
productive  acres  and  mingles  largely  in  the  social,  business 
and  political  life  of  the  locality. 

Very  soon  after  his  return  he  was  chosen  to  fill  the  office 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and,  of 
course,  still  holds  the  position,  performing  its  duties  with  an 
urbanity  and  discrimination  rare  in  one  of  his  years.  It  is 
worthy  of  mention,  in  passing,  that  his  opponent  for  the 


294  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

magisterial  office  was  a  man  of  his  own  political  faith,  but 
Mr.  SNYDER  was  successful  by  235  majority.  That  vote  is  a 
good  indication  of  the  esteem  and  popularity  that  he  had 
acquired  among  his  own  townsmen,  who  have  known  him 
all  the  way  from  boyhood  to  man's  estate. 

His  next  political  fight  was  in  the  summer  of  1871. 
There  was  a  sharp  contest  over  the  delegates  to  the  State 
Convention  of  that  year.  Mr.  SNYDER  was  brought  forward 
by  his  friends,  and  especially  by  the  young  men,  as  a  candi- 
date for  delegate,  but  a  number  of  the  "  old  stagers  "  made  a 
strong  effort  to  defeat  him.  They  were  somewhat  chagrined, 
however,  when  it  Avas  found  that  he  had  triumphed  by  a 
handsome  majority.  His  success  as  a  delegate  was  such  that 
his  friends  insisted  upon  placing  him  in  nomination  for  the 
Assembly.  There  were  several  candidates  for  the  honor, 
some  of  whom  were  disposed  to  make  light  of  the  claims 
of  •'  that  young  man  SNYDER."  When  the  vote  was  taken 
in  the  Convention,  he  had  a  clear  majority,  and  was  duly 
nominated  as  the  regular  Republican  candidate.  IRA  B. 
FORD,  a  wily  and  indefatigable  worker,  Avas  his  Democratic 
opponent  in  the  subsequent  canvass.  The  Republican 
majority  Avas  not  large  in  the  district,  and  his  enemies 
thought  they  saw  a  chance  of  defeating  him.  Mr.  LAPE,  a 
Republican,  Avas  thereupon  put  in  the  field  as  an  Independ- 
ent Temperance  candidate.  The  fight  Avas  a  hot  one,  every 
inch  of  ground  and  CArery  locality  in  the  district  being 
sharply  fought  over  by  the  opposing  candidates.  It  Avas  one 
of  the  sharpest  and  most  exciting  contests  ever  Avitnessed  in 
the  district  for  member  of  Assembly,  and  the  opponents  of 
Mr.  SXYDER  felt  confident  of  securing  his  defeat.  But  they 
counted  without  their  host,  for  Mr.  SXYDER  developed  all 
the  qualities  of  a  thorough  leader  in  the  conduct  of  a  for- 
midably contested  canvass.  When  the  votes  came  to  be 
counted,  it  Avas  found  that  he  had  secured  a  majority  of  987 
over  FORD,  3,000  over  LAPE,  and  600  over  both  combined. 
The  young  Republicans  Avere  greatly  delighted  at  this  result. 


JOHN  L.  SNYDER.  295 

his  majority  being  one  of  the  largest  ever  given  to  an 
Assembly  candidate  in  the  district.  Of  course  the  efforts  of 
his  friends  aided  largely  in  securing  his  election ;  but  it  was 
more  directly  due  to  his  own  indomitable  courage,  sagac- 
ity and  energy.  Last  fall  the  opposing  influences  against 
him  had  sensibly  diminished.  He  had  made  a  good  record 
in  the  Assembly,  his  popularity  was  assured,  and  even  his 
bitterest  opponents  had  began  to  admire  the  plucky  young 
politician.  He  was  re-elected  by  a  majority  of  3,361  over 
SANDERS  S.  BAUCUS,  his  Democratic  opponent. 

Mr.  SNYDER  has  thus  far  proved  himself  to  be  a  straight- 
forward, unswerving  and  reliable  Republican.  He  has  placed 
himself  above  any  claims  or  petty  factional  feuds  that  exist 
in  Rensselaer  county  as  well  as  in  other  portions  of  the  State 
in  both  parties.  He  is  honest  and  reliable  under  all  circum- 
stances, and  seems  to  have  an  intuitive  knowledge  of  the 
course  of  conduct  which  gains  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  his  fellows.  He  takes  up  very  little  time  in  speech-making. 
When  he  has  any  thing  to  say  he  says  it  in  the  most  terse  and 
forcible  language  he  can  command.  Others  may  pile  argu- 
ment upon  argument,  but  he  contents  himself  with  a  direct 
and  plain  statement  of  the  case  and  leaves  it.  It  is  to  be 
noticed  that  he  seldom  fails  to  carry  his  point.  His  effi- 
ciency as  a  member  lies  rather  in  his  capacity  for  hard  work 
in  the  committee  room  and  elsewhere.  His  industry,  his 
familiarity  with  legislative  rules,  as  well  as  his  genial  quali- 
ties and  warm  friendliness  of  manner,  combine  to  render 
him  a  capable  member.  During  his  tAvo  terms  Mr.  S \YDER 
has  served  on  several  important  committees.  Last  year  lie 
was  a  leading  member  of  the  Committee  on  Commerce  and 
Navigation,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Militia  Committee. 
In  the  present  Assembly  he  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Expenditures  of  the  House,  and  retains  his  place  on  Com- 
merce and  Navigation. 


296  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JAMES  STEWART. 


Though  a  young  man,  Mr.  STEWART  is  a  lawyer  of  decided 
ability,  and  a  respected  and  esteemed  resident  of  South  Wor- 
cester, Otsego  county,  where  he  was  born  November  26, 1841. 
He  is  a  son  of  WILLIAM  STEWART,  an  able  and  wealthy 
physician  of  that  town,  who,  we  believe,  is  still  living.  Mr. 
STEWART  was  thoroughly  educated  in  the  Delaware  Literary 
Institute,  the  New  York  Conference  Seminary,  and  Ferguson- 
ville  Academy,  passing  with  credit  through  the  English  and 
classical  course,  and  after  suitably  qualifying  himself  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1863.  He  represented  Otsego  county 
in  the  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1868,  but  aside  from 
that  service,  he  never  held  any  political  position  until  he 
took  his  seat  in  the  present  Assembly.  At  one  time  during 
the  war,  he  was  aid-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  BURNSIDE, 
and  proved  himself  an  able  officer.  Always  a  consistent  and 
straightforward  Democrat,  this  gentleman's  popularity 
where  he  is  known  is  amply  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that 
but  fifteen  votes  were  cast  against  him  in  his  own  election 
district  in  the  recent  canvass.  Mr.  STEWART  is  a  tall,  good- 
looking  gentleman,  of  pleasing  manner  and  gentlemanly 
address,  and  is  evidently  fully  able  to  discharge  the  impor- 
tant trust  which  his  constituents  have  committed  to  his  care. 


ADRIAN  M.  SUYDAM.  297 


ADRIAN  M.  SUYDAM. 


Mr.  SUYDAM  worthily  represents  the  Eighth  district  of 
Kings,  and  though  his  voice  is  not  often  heard  in  debate, 
his  influence  and  co-operation  are  of  great  value  in  the  prac- 
tical work  of  legislation.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bush- 
wick,  now  the  Eighteenth  ward  of  Brooklyn,  and  a  por- 
tion of  his  Assembly  district,  on  the  25th  of  November. 
1856.  He  is  a  direct  descendent  of  the  first  settlers  of  Long 
Island,  who  emigrated  from  Holland  about  the  year  1626. 
His  father,  JACOB  SUYDAM,  served  honorably  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  grandfather,  who  Avas  also  a  native  of  Bushwick, 
served  with  a  cavalry  regiment  during  the  War  for  Independ- 
ence, and  participated  in  many  of  the  hard-fought  battles 
of  that  trying  period.  It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  Mr. 
S.  comes  of  good  stock.  Mr.  SUYDAM  was  educated  in  the 
district  school  at  Bushwick,  and  early  turned  his  attention 
to  garden  and  dairy  farming,  which  he  has  since  followed 
with  a  reasonable  degree  of  success.  In  1852  he  married 
the  daughter  of  NICHOLAS  WYCKOFF,  of  Brooklyn.  Mr. 
SUYDAM  was  formerly  an  Old  Line  Whig,  and  when  that 
party  dissolved  he  became  a  Eepublican,  and  has  never 
swerved  from  his  political  faith.  During  the  years  1855  and 
1856  he  represented  the  Eighteenth  ward  in  the  Brooklyn 
Board  of  Aldermen,  and  from  1867  to  1870,  he  was  an 
efficient  member  of  the  Brooklyn  Board  of  Education.  In 
the  Assembly  canvass  of  last  fall  he  received  a  majority  of 
420  over  two  candidates,  A.  M.  BLISS,  Liberal,  and  W.  F. 
JKXXINGS,  Democrat.  He  is  an  effective  and  hard-working 
member  of  the  Committees  on  Ixailroads  and  Agriculture. 


298  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


GEORGE  M.  SWAIN. 


Mr.  SWAIN,  a  well-to-do  farmer  in  the  town  of  Somerset, 
Niagara  county,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Totteness,  Devon- 
shire, England,  October  18,  1821.  His  father  was  born  in 
this  country,  and  was  married  in  England.  He  became  a 
Nantucket  whaleman,  and  led  a  very  eventful  life,  having,  in 
the  course  of  his  vocation,  been  in  almost  every  portion  of 
the  world,  and  was  at  St.  Helena  when  BONAPABTE  landed  on 
that  isolated  place  of  exile.  He  died  about  two  years  ago,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-four.  Young  SWAIN  was  brought  to  this 
country  at  a  very  early  age,  and  had  very  little  chance  to 
emulate  his  father's  roving  course  of  life.  He  was  educated 
at  Auburn  Academy  and  in  a  select  school  at  Batavia,  and 
spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  at  Auburn.  Finally,  he 
became  a  farmer,  and  has  since  adhered  to  that  occupation, 
with  a  fair  measure  of  success. 

His  political  record  presents  no  feature  of  interest,  beyond 
the  fact  that,  since  he  ceased  to  be  a  Whig,  he  has  always 
been  a  consistent  and  active  Republican,  and  his  counsel  and 
co-operation  in  local  management  are  valued  very  highly  by 
the  members  of  his  party.  He  has  not  manifested  much 
desire  for  office,  but,  at  the  same  time,  he  is  not  disposed  to 
shrink  from  any  responsibility  of  that  nature  he  is  called 
upon  to  assume.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Niagara  county 
Board  of  Supervisors  from  1862  to  1804,  serving  with  credit. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  18T2,  serving  on 
the  Committees  on  Claims  ani  Agriculture,  and  was  elected 
to  the  present  House  by  an  increased  vote.  He  is  now 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Agriculture,  and  is  retained 
on  the  Claims  Committee. 

Mr.  SWAIN  is  quiet  and  retiring  in  disposition.  He  seldom 
participates  in  the  debates,  but  contents  himself  with  ably 
and  faithfully  representing  his  constituency,  and  keeping 


SIDNEY  SYLVESTER.  299 

himself  right  on  the  record.  Possessing  legislative  abilities 
of  a  high  order,  he  is  well  posted  in  parliamentary  routine, 
and  is  valuable  in  the  committee  room.  He  was  married 
in  1842. 


SIDNEY    SYLVESTER. 


Mr.  SYLVESTER  was  born  and  has  always  lived  in  Lewis 
county,  and  is,  therefore,  fully  competent  to  represent  that 
locality,  being  fully  acquainted  with  its  needs.  His  parents 
were  New  England  people,  his  father,  ELEAZER  S.  SYLVESTER, 
being  a  native  of  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  and  his  mother  coming 
from  New  Hampshire.  His  father  died  in  1835,  at  the  age 
of  56,  but  his  mother  is  still  living,  and  is  nearly  seventy- 
four  years  of  age.  Young  SYLVESTER  first  saw  the  light  in 
the  village  of  Copenhagen,  June  5,  1818,  and  as  soon  as  he 
was  old  enough,  was  given  ample  educational  opportunities, 
spending  several  years  in  the  common  schools,  and  complet- 
ing his  studies  with  a  two  years'  course  in  Clinton  Liberal 
Institute.  He  was  then  twenty  years  of  age,  and  having 
been  recently  bereft  of  his  father,  he  was  thrown,  to  a  certain 
extent,  upon  his  own  resources.  He  taught  school  for  several 
years  and  then  became  a  farmer,  and  afterward  a  merchant, 
He  is  now  engaged  in  milling,  and  is  not  only  a  man  of 
means,  but  an  upright,  public  spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  SYLVESTER  commenced  his  political  life  as  a  Democrat, 
and  acted  for  many  years  with  the  •'  Free  Soil  "  and  '•  Barn- 
burner "  wings  of  that  party.  Since  1855,  however,  lie  has 
voted  and  acted  with  the  Republican  party.  Previous  to 
1860  he  held  several  public  positions.  In  1843  he  was 
appointed  County  Superintendent  of  public  schools  by  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  Lewis,  and  served  two  years.  In 
1855  he  was  elected  County  Clerk,  and  was  three  years  in  the 
position.  In  the  year  1860  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Supervisors.  During  the  past  twelve  years,  while  he  has 


300  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

felt  a  lively  interest  in  political  matters,  and  aided  the  local 
organizations  with  his  personal  co-operation  and  influence, 
he  has  steadily  declined  preferment  of  any  kind  until  last 
fall,  when  he  consented,  much  against  his  wishes,  to  become 
a  candidate  for  the  Assembly.  The  county  is  quite  closely 
contested,  politically,  and  after  a  spirited  canvass  he  was 
elected,  defeating  ELISHA  CROFOOT,  the  Democratic  candi- 
date, by  a  majority  of  321.  He  serves  on  the  Printing  Com- 
mittee, and  also  on  the  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole.  He 
takes  part  occasionally  in  the  debates,  but  he  is  not  ambitious 
as  a  public  speaker.  He  applies  his  energies  and  abilities 
unstintedly  to  the  work  of  the  committee  room,  and  to  the 
practical  details  of  legislation ;  and  no  one  who  knows  Mr. 
SYLVESTER  will  venture  to  dispute  the  statement  that  Lewis 
county  is  worthily  represented  in  the  present  Assembly. 


WILLIAM  H.  TEFFT. 


Mr.  TEFFT'S  legislative  career  has  as  yet  been  very  brief,  as 
he  comes  into  the  House  in  the  last  third  of  the  session.  He 
has  shown,  however,  that  he  possesses  marked  ability,  both  as 
an  orator  and  as  a  quiet,  persistent,  practical  worker.  He  is 
a  man  who  would  attract  attention  in  any  assemblage,  his 
features  impressing  one  at  first  glance  with  the  fact  that  he 
possesses  ample  nerve  and  determination  for  every  exigency. 
His  full,  clean-shaven,  broad  face,  coal-black  hair  and  eyes, 
fresh  complexion,  pleasing  expression  of  feature,  and  well- 
developed  form,  make  up  a  physique  which  shows,  in  every 
characteristic,  a  man  of  energy  and  capacity. 

WILLIAM  H.  TEFFT  Avas  born  in  Greenwich,  Washington 
county,  October  6,  1833.  He  is  therefore  yet  in  the  early 
prime  of  manhood.  He  enjoyed  excellent  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  before  attaining  his  majority  he  had  graduated 


WILLIAM  H.  TEFFT.  301 

from  the  full  course  of  the  Troy  Conference  Academy,  at 
West  Poultney,  Vt.,  and  had  also  spent  three  years  in  Brown 
University,  a  member  of  the  class  of  1854.  On  leaving  col- 
lege, he  went  to  New  York  city  and  entered  the  law  office  of 
Judge  E.  D.  CULVER,  well  known  throughout  the  State  as 
an  able  jurist  and  effective  speaker.  He  remained  with 
Judge  CULVER  two  years,  assiduously  striving  to  perfect 
himself  in  his  chosen  profession,  and  in  1856  he  was  duly 
admitted  to  the  bar,  at  once  assuming  a  respectable  standing 
among  the  legal  talent  of  the  metropolis.  In  1864  he 
removed  to  Whitehall,  where  he  now  resides,  his  time,  when 
at  home,  being  mainly  devoted  to  editorial  duties. 

£oon  after  his  return  to  Whitehall,  the  Clironicle  news- 
paper was  on  the  point  of  suspension,  owing  to  causes  which 
it  is  not  necessary  to  refer  to  here.  He  was  induced  to 
assume  the  control  of  the  paper  at  this  critical  period  in  its 
fortunes,  and  his  energy  and  determination  soon  placed  it 
upon  a  firm  footing,  and  it  at  once  became  recognized  as 
a  leading  influence  in  Washington  county  politics.  In  1870, 
the  Chronicle  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  for  a  time  he  devoted 
himself  again  to  the  legal  profession ;  but  his  tastes  and 
aspirations  had  become  firmly  rooted  in  the  journalistic  field, 
and  his  experience  was  that  of  nearly  all  newspaper  men  in 
similar  circumstances  —  he  could  not  content  himself  outside 
of  the  sanctum.  Finally,  a  small  paper  was  established  out 
of  the  ruins  of  the  Clironicle.  He  took  control  of  it,  and  is 
now  its  editor  and  publisher,  having  already  made  it  one  of 
the  best  of  the  several  excellent  journals  of  that  county. 

In  politics,  Mr.  TEFFT  is  and  has  been  a  Eepublican  since 
he  cast  his  first  vote,  and  has  been  active  in  advocating 

O 

Republican  principles,  both  in  the  press  and  on  the  stump. 
He  has  never  been  a  seeker  for  office,  feeling  that  he  could 
do  more  effective  service  with  his  pen  than  as  the  incumbent 
of  any  public  position.  On  but  one  other  occasion  than  the 
present  has  he  filled  public  place,  and  that,  strangely  enough, 
was  also  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  death.  In  1869  he  was 


302  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

appointed  School  Commissioner  in  place  of  Rev.  Dr.  PARKS, 
deceased.  When  the  death  of  Hon.  ELEAZEK  JONES  made 
it  necessary  to  elect  another  member  from  the  second  district 
of  Washington  county,  public  opinion  naturally  turned  to 
Mr.  TEFFT.  He  had  been  conspicuous  in  his  editorial  advo- 
cacy of  the  bill  now  pending  in  the  Legislature  to  construct 
a  ship  canal  from  the  Hudson  river  to  Lake  Champlain,  a 
measure  in  which  the  citizens  of  his  district  feel  a  deep 
interest.  He  was,  therefore,  felt  to  be  just  the  man  to  push 
forward  that  as  well  as  other  local  measures.  Though 
several  gentlemen  of  acknowledged  ability  were  named,  Mr. 
TEFFT  was  nominated  and  elected  without  opposition,  the 
Democrats  permitting  the  election  to  go  by  default.  The 
estimation  in  which  he  is  held  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
he  received  every  vote  but  one  in  his  own  town,  where  the 
Democratic  candidate  for  supervisor  had  received  263 
majority  at  the  town  meeting  held  the  week  previous. 

A  man  of  strong  sympathies,  brilliant  attainments,  and 
the  instincts  of  the  thorough  gentleman,  Mr.  TEFFT  is 
already  popular  in  the  House,  his  urbanity  and  courtesy 
securing  him  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in 
contact. 


FRANKLIN  W.  TOBEY. 


Though  the  member  from  Essex  has  been  less  than  two 
years  in  public  life,  he  is  well  known  from  one  end  of  the 
State  to  the  other,  and  ranks  among  the  most  prominent 
members  of  the  present  House.  Speaker  CORNELL  displayed 
prompt  recognition  of  his  ability,  and  of  the  signal  service 
he  rendered  the  State  at  the  last  session,  by  placing  him  at 
the  head  of  the  Insurance  Committee.  Born  at  Jay,  Essex 
county,  on  the  7th  of  February,  1844,  Mr.  TOBEY  is  only  28 
years  of  age,  and  is,  therefore,  in  the  flush  of  youthful  and 
vigorous  manhood.  He  received  no  educational  advantages 


FRANKLIN  W.  TOBEY.  303 

in  his  boyhood,  except  those  offered  by  the  common  schools. 
His  father,  ISAAC  TOBEY,  was,  and  is  still,  a  plain  Essex 
county  farmer,  and  young  TOBEY  was  trained  to  hard  labor 
ou  the  paternal  acres.  But  he  made  diligent  use  of  oppor- 
tunities within  reach,  and  succeeded  in  acquiring  knowledge 
to  such  a  degree  that  before  he  readied  his  majority  he  was 
permitted  to  study  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  AUGUSTUS  C. 
HAND.  He  made  good  progress,  and  in  1868  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the 
law  in  the  firm  of  WALDO,  TOBEY  &  BECKWITH,  at  Port 
Henry.  Several  years  ago  he  married  the  daughter  of  Rev.  C. 
RANSOM,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  now  Chaplain  of  Clinton 
State  Prison.  Mr.  TOBEY'S  political  life  does  not  extend 
very  far  into  the  past,  but  it  has  been  brilliantly  successful. 
Always  a  Republican,  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  local 
politics  since  his  18th  year.  In  1869  he  was  elected  Super- 
visor, and  on  his  being  re-elected  in  1870,  was  made  Chair- 
man of  the  Board.  In  the  fall  of  1871  he  was  elected  to  the 
Assembly  by  a  majority  of  1,406,  and  re-elected  last  fall  by 
1,981  majority. 

His  services  during  the  session  of  1872  are  so  well  known 
that  it  seems  almost  needless  to  refer  to  them.  On  making 
his  first  appearance  at  Albany  he  was  regarded  as  a  beardless 
youth  of  no  great  account,  but  he  soon  showed  his  mettle. 
Speaker  SMITH  knew  something  about  him,  and  assigned  him 
the  second  place  on  the  Insurance  Committee,  and  also  made 
him  a  member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  which,  as  the  event 
proved,  were  the  two  most  important  Committees  of  the  last 
House.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  TOBEY  to  act  as  Chairman 
of  the  Sub-committee  which  conducted  the  long  and 
arduous  investigation  into  the  official  conduct  of  (!i-:o.  W. 
MILLER,  the  then  Superintendent  of  the  Insurance  Depart- 
ment. Weeks  were  occupied  in  the  examination  of  witnesses, 
and  the  testimony  taken  constituted  one  of  the  most  bulky 
documents  of  the  session.  Much  of  the  examination  was 
conducted  by  Mr.  TOBKY  in  person,  and  it  is  but  just  to  say 


304  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

that  he  was  excellently  fitted  for  the  difficult  and  delicate 
task  devolving  upon  him.  The  result  of  that  investigation 
is  now  a  matter  of  history ;  but  the  unanimity  with  which 
the  Eepublican  majority  of  the  Assembly  promptly  indorsed 
the  conclusions  of  the  Committee,  by  expelling  Mr.  MILLER 
from  his  office,  was  a  marked  compliment,  not  only  to 'Mr. 
TOBEY,  but  to  every  Republican  member  of  the  Committee. 
As  a  member  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  it  was  Mr.  TOBEY'S 
privilege  to  play  a  prominent  part  in  what  was  pre-eminently 
the  distinguishing  achievement  of  the  last  Legislature, 
namely,  the  impeachment  trial  and  expulsion  of  the  cor- 
rupt New  York  judges.  The  offenses  of  these  men  had 
long  been  a  stench  in  the  people's  nostrils,  and  it  was 
peculiarly  the  province  of  a  "reform"  Legislature  to  bring 
about  a  needed  change  for  the  better  in  the  judiciary. 
If  the  Legislature  of  1872  had  accomplished  no  other 
act  worthy  of  commendation,  the  fact  that  it  did  effect 
this  reform  should  entitle  it  to  the  gratitude  of  the  long- 
suffering  people  of  the  State.  When  the  charges  had  been 
made  against  Judges  BARNARD,  CARDOZO  and  McCuxx,  it 
devolved  upon  the  Judiciary  Committee  to  investigate  them, 
and  to  prepare  articles  of  impeachment  in  case  they  were 
well  founded.  The  committee  entered  upon  its  work  with 
alacrity,  and  prosecuted  it  with  thoroughness.  They  pro- 
ceeded to  New  York,  where  they  took  a  great  mass  of  evidence, 
and,  except  on  one  or  two  minor  points,  were  unanimous  in 
recommending  the  impeachment  of  the  judges  for  mal  and 
corrupt  conduct.  The  impeachment  articles  were  prepared 
and  adopted  by  the  Assembly,  and  the  result  of  the  protracted 
trial,  which  took  place  in  the  summer  of  1872,  is  familiar  to 
every  one.  In  all  these  proceedings  Mr.  TOBEY  bore  a  con- 
spicuous and  honorable  part,  and  won  a  reputation  which 
few  realize  who  spend  a  life-time  in  public  service.  Of  course, 
with  such  a  record  as  the  result  of  a  single  session,  his  con- 
stituents had  no  choice  but  to  return  him  to  the  Assembly 
by  a  largely  increased  majority,  and  they  did  so.  In  the 


MILTON  M.  TOMPKINS.  305 

present  session  he  is  making  an  unexceptionable  record.  As 
Chairman,  respectively,  of  the  Committees  on  Insurance  and 
Rules,  and  as  a  prominent  memuer  of  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee, he  has  aided  in  initiating  and  perfecting  much  im- 
portant legislation. 

In  appearance,  Mr.  TOBEY  is  still  somewhat  youthful,  as 
he  wears  no  beard,  and  while  he  is  large  of  frame,  his  portli- 
ness is  not  sufficiently  apparent  to  spoil  his  good  looks. 
Though  not  particularly  brilliant  as  an  orator,  he  occasion- 
ally takes  part  in  debates,  but  his  speeches  are  mainly  con- 
fined to  brief  statements  of  fact,  and  hence  are,  probably,  as 
a  rule,  quite  as  effective  as  the  more  pretentious  of  those  who 
have  the  "gift"  in  a  much  greater  degree.  Mr.  TOBEY'S 
strong  point  lies  in  what  may  be  termed  the  preliminary 
work  of  legislation,  and  in  the  labors  of  the  committee 
room. 


MILTON  M.  TOMPKINS. 


Mr.  TOMPKIXS  was  born  in  Chatham  village,  where  he 
still  resides,  on  the  Gth  of  October,  1843.  His  parents,  both  oi 
whom  are  now  deceased,  were  of  American  birth,  his  father 
being  in  his  day  a  respected  citizen  of  Columbia  county. 
Young  TOMPKIXS  was  liberally  educated,  having  spent  several 
years  at  Sandlake  Collegiate  Institute,  and  at  the  Hudson 
River  Institute  at  Claverack.  His  occupation  is  that  of  a 
paper  manufacturer,  a  business  which  he  has  successfully 
conducted  several  years.  He  also  owns  a  farm,  but  his 
agricultural  labors  are  little  more  than  supervisory  in  their 
nature.  In  1SGG  he  was  married  to  KITTIK  GARXER,  and 
among  his  neighbors  and  friends  he  is  known  as  a  young 
man  of  great  business  ability  and  strict  integrity.  He 
attends  the  Reformed  church. 

Mr.  TOMPKIXS  is  a  Democrat,  and  represents  the  Second 
district  of  Columbia  county  for  the  second  time  in  the 
20 


306  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Assembly.  He  was  elected  in  1871  by  a  majority  of  74. 
Last  fall  his  majority,  JAMES  S.  SHUFELT  being  his  oppo- 
nent, was  324,  showing  a  material  gain.  Besides  his  service 
in  the  State  Legislature,  he  served  one  year  as  Supervisor  of 
the  town  of  Chatham,  in  the  contest  for  the  office  defeating 
GEORGE  VAN  VALKEXBURGH  by  a  majority  of  152.  Last 
year,  in  the  Assembly,  he  served  on  the  Committees  on  State 
Prisons  and  Expenditures  of  the  Executive  Department. 
This  year  he  is  on  Villages,  Salt  and  Public  Lands.  His 
career  in  the  House  is  marked  by  quiet,  unostentatious  per- 
formance of  duty.  He  is  no  speech-maker;  but,  where 
practical  work  is  required,  he  is  the  right  man  in  the  right 
place. 


ELBERT  TOWNSEXD. 


If  physiognomy  be  any  indication  of  character,  the  subject 
of  this  notice  may  be  safely  set  down  as  one  of  nature's 
noblemen.  A  plain,  honest  face  is  Mr.  TOWNSEXD'S,  and 
one  which  gives  little  encouragement  to  the  designing  horde 
of  lobbyists  which  swarm  about  the  Capitol.  Coming  from 
a  portion  of  the  State  rich  in  agricultural  resources  and  in 
all  the  elements  of  material  prosperity,  he  has  little  sympathy 
with  the  schemes  of  political  adventurers,  and  his  efforts  as  a 
legislator  are  therefore  directed  to  the  accomplishment  of 
that  which  is  for  the  best  interests  of  the  commonwealth, 
and  the  immediate  locality  which  lie  represents.  He  was 
born  in  Pavilion,  Genesee  county,  January  28, 1842,  and  has, 
therefore,  just  passed  his  31st  year.  His  father,  ASHLEY 
TOWXSEXD,  who  died  about  thirteen  years  ago,  was  a  native 
of  Vermont,  though  he  settled  in  western  Xew  York  soon 
after  his  marriage,  and  was  the  inventor  of  the  first  thresh- 
ing machine  used  in  that  section  of  the  country.  Young 
TOWXSEXD  was  brought  up  on  his  fathers  farm,  and  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  He  married  Miss  E.MILIE  OLMSTKD 


DAVID  C.  VAN  COTT.  307 

in  1862,  and  since  then  has  successfully  managed  a  large 
farm,  devoting  his  attention  specially  to  the  breeding  of 
Spanish  merino  sheep  and  Durham  cattle.  His  efforts  in 
this  direction  have  gained  for  him  quite  a  reputation  among 
the  farmers  of  western  New  York,  and  he  has  already  accom- 
plished much  toward  the  improvement  of  farm  stock  in  that 
section.  In  1872  he  was  President  of  the  Genesee  County 
Agricultural  Society,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  that  organization.  Though  he  has  always 
been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  generally 
exerted  a  strong  influence  in  behalf  of  its  nominees,  he  has 
very  rarely  accepted  public  position.  Before  he  was  21  years 
of  age  he  had  served  two  years  as  Town  Clerk,  and  he  was 

o  v 

subsequently  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  four  years.  His  elec- 
tion to  the  Assembly  was  entirely  unsought,  and  the  fact 
that  he  received  a  majority  some  400  in  excess  of  the 
Republican  majority  of  1871,  is  a  sufficient  indication  of  the 
regard  in  which  he  is  held  at  home.  Mr.  TOWXSEND  serves 
acceptably  as  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Agriculture, 
Grievances  and  Indian  Affairs.  He  is  a  man  of  robust 
physique,  possesses  an  intelligent  appreciation  of  the  duties 
of  a  legislator,  and  will  undoubtedly  make  an  excellent  record 
in  the  Assembly  of  1873. 


DAVID  C.  VAN  COTT. 


Mr.  VAIST  COTT,  who  is  deservedly  regarded  as  one  of  the 
brightest  and  keenest  members  of  the  present  House,  is  a 
native  of  Brooklyn,  the  city  which  he  in  part  represents.  He 
was  born  May  31,  1843,  and  is  descended  from  a  Dutch 
family,  who,  about  the  year  1090,  purchased  and  settled  upon 
lands  in  Bushwick,  which  now  forms  part  of  the  city  of 
Brooklyn.  His  father  is  the  Hon.  JOSHUA  M.  VAX  COTT, 
widely  known  as  an  eminent  lawyer,  who  has  given  much  of 


308  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

his  time  to  the  service  of  his  city  and  State  in  various  offi- 
cial capacities,  his  most  recent  and  notable  public  service 
being  performed  as  one  of  the  leading  counsel  in  the  recent 
judicial  impeachment  trials. 

Assemblyman  VAN  COTT  acquired  his  education  mainly 
in  the  course  of  private  study,  not  having  availed  himself  of 
collegiate  advantages.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  thorough 
student  of  scientific  subjects,  which  laid  the  foundation  for 
his  taste  and  aptitude  for  the  trial  of  patent  suits  and  actions 
involving  the  consideration  of  that  class  of  questions. 

By  carefully  applying  himself  to  languages,  historical  and 
literary  studies,  he  acquired  the  best  possible  preparation  for 
a  professional  and  public  career,  which,  strengthened  and 
directed  by  experience  in  public  life,  will  add  greatly  to  his 
influence  and  means  of  usefulness.  By  the  diligent  improve- 
ment of  natural  gifts  he  has  come  to  be  recognized,  by  those 
who  know  him,  as  a  man  of  fine  culture  and  acquirements, 
while  the  opportunities  he  has  had  of  friendly  intercourse 
with  men  of  learning  at  home  and  abroad  have  afforded 
him  many  of  the  pleasantest  associations  of  his  life. 

Wisely  choosing  the  legal  profession  as  the  field  for  his  life 
work,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  18C8,  and  after  practic- 
ing several  years  in  the  firm  of  VAN  COTT,  WINSLOW  & 
VAX  COTT  in  Xew  York  city,  he  went  to  Brooklyn  and 
entered  into  a  law  partnership  with  BENJAMIN  F.  MACY, 
Esq.,  in  which  he  has  since  continued,  and  though  he  is  still 
quite  a  young  man,  his  reputation  as  a  careful  and  industri- 
ous lawyer  rests  upon  a  solid  basis.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
active  and  efficient  members  of  the  majority  in  the  Assembly, 
taking  part  in  many  of  the  discussions  upon  important  sub- 
jects. He  is  a  very  finished  speaker,  and  usually  adopts  an 
easy,  conversational  style,  which  wins  attention  by  clear  and 
logical  statement  expressed  in-  graceful  and  correct  English. 
Occasionally  he  warms  up  with  his  theme,  and  is  at  such 
times  an  animated  speaker,  but  generally  his  remarks  are 
delivered  calmly  and  dispassionately,  but  with  power  and 


WILLIAM  IF.  VAN  DEMARK.  309 

emphasis.  Especially  at  home  in  the  discussion  of  legal 
questions  which  come  before  the  House,  he  is  well  informed 
as  to  many  of  the  subjects  in  reference  to  which  legislation 
is  sought,  and  applies  to  their  consideration  keenly  critical 
faculties,  excellent  judgment,  and  correct  understanding. 
He  is  rather  below  the  medium  size,  and  somewhat  slight  in 
frame,  but  he  evidently  enjoys  good  health.  Courteous  and 
pleasant  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  Mr.  VAX  COTT  has 
made  many  warm  friends  in  Albany,  and  it  seems  evident 
that  his  public  career  is  destined  to  be  one  of  exceptional 
brilliancy. 


WILLIAM  W.  VAN  DEMARK. 


Mr.  VAX  DEJIABK  is  another  of  the  farmer  legislators 
whose  presence  in  the  Assembly  constitutes  a  solid  wall 
against  the  schemes'  of  unprincipled  politicians.  He  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Junius,  Seneca  county,  on  the  12th  of 
August,  1836,  and  still  resides  there,  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  received  a  liberal  common  school  and  academic 
education,  passing  through  the  full  English  course  at  Water- 
loo Academy.  In  1862,  he  married  the  daughter  of  LEWIS 
B.  PAKSOXS,  a  prominent  Republican  of  Galen,  Wayne 
county.  With  the  exception  of  one  term  in  the  Board  of 
Supervisors  of  Seneca  county,  in  1866,  Mr.  VAX  DEMAKK 
has  never  before  held  public  position.  He  has  always  acted 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and,  though  his  district  was 
represented  by  a  Republican  last  year,  he  carried  it  last  fall 
by  a  majority  of  13-i,  over  STERLIXG  G.  HADLEY,  his  Repub- 
lican opponent.  Serving  on  the  Committees  on  Roads  and 
Bridges  and  Agriculture,  he  performs  his  duties  acceptably. 
He  is,  in  fact,  a  man  of  decided  ability,  and  though  he  is 
tenacious  and  positive  in  his  political  predilections,  he  is 
never  obtrusive  in  the  expression  of  his  views.  In  religions 
faith  lie  is  a  Universalist.  . 


310  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


AMBROSE  L.  VAN  DUSEK 


Hon.  A.  L.  VAN  DUSEN  is  a  native  of  Gypsum,  Ontario 
county,  where  he  still  resides,  engaged  in  farming.  He  Avas 
born  on  the  first  of  October,  1810,  and  is,  therefore,  over 
sixty-two  years  of  age.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Hills- 
dale,  Columbia  county,  and  moved  to  Ontario  county  in  the 
winter  of  1800.  His  mother,  who  was  a  sister  of  AMBROSE 
L.  JORDAN,  now  deceased,  is  still  living.  Mr.  VAN  DUSEN 
received  a  thorough  common  school  education,  although  his 
"alma  water"  was  none  other  than  a  country  "school- 
marm."  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  mer- 
chant, and,  after  seven  years  of  service,  he  went  into  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Three  years  of  independent  mercantile 
life  satisfied  him,  however,  as,  at  the  expiration  of  that 
period,  he  purchased  the  farm  which  he  has  since  managed 
with  good  success.  During  the  past  four  years  he  has  been 
a  director  of  the  Third  National  Bank  at  Butfalo. 

Until  the  formation  of  the  Eepublican  party,  Mr.  VAN 
DUSEN  was  a  Whig,  and  was  elected  Supervisor  of  his 
town  before  the  dissolution  of  that  organization.  Since  that 
event  he  has  invariably  acted  with  the  Republicans,  and  has 
held  a  number  of  responsible  positions  in  the  gift  of  his 
party.  In  18G1  he  was  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Poor, 
and  still  holds  the  office.  He  is  now  serving  his  second  term 
in  the  Legislature.  In  the  canvass  of  1871  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Assembly  by  a  majority  of  450,  although  the  district 
went  Democratic  the  previous  years  by  over  300  majority. 
Last  fall  his  majority  was  265,  notwithstanding  the  popular- 
ity of  his  Democratic  opponent,  Mr.  THADDEUS  HOTCHKISS. 
In  the  last  Assembly  he  served  on  the  Committees  on  Insur- 
ance and  Engrossed  Bills;  in  the  present,  on  Ways  and 
Means  and  Salt. 

Mr.  VAN  DUSEN  was  married,  in  1834,  to  Miss  RICHARD- 


WILLIAM  J.  VAN  DUSEN.  311 

SON,  of  Victor,  in  this  State.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a 
Universalist,  and  his  stable  convictions  and  earnest  purpose 
are  very  plainly  apparent  in  his  course  as  a  legislator.  His 
voice  is  frequently  raised  in  behalf  of  the  oppressed,  and  in 
favor  of  honesty  everywhere.  Mr.  VAX  DUSKX  has  much 
of  the  "  old  school "  in  his  appearance.  His  countenance  is 
kindly  and  benevolent  in  expression,  and  no  man  would 
hesitate  to  trust  him  on  sight.  He  is  not  given  to  much 
speaking,  but  all  he  says  is  to  the  point  and  eminently  prac- 
tical. He  closely  scrutinizes  every  measure  that  passes 
through  his  hands,  and  is  uncommonly  fertile  in  suggestion. 
In  short,  he  is  an  excellent  legislator,  prompt  in  the  dis- 
charge of  duties,  and  able  to  point  his  constituents  to  an 
unimpeachable  record. 


WILLIAM  J.  VAN  DUSEN. 


The  closely-contested  county  of  Montgomery  is  repre- 
sented for  the  second  time  by  Mr.  VAX  DUSEX,  who  is  a 
plain  farmer  of  unbending  integrity  and  irreproachable  char- 
acter. He  was  born  in  Schodack,  Rensselaer  county,  of 
American  parents,  on  the  16th  of  July,  1808.  When  he  was 
but  four  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Canajoharie,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  Besides  managing  the  productive 
estate  which  has  been  his  main  occupation  through  life, 
Mr.- VAX  DUSEX  has  found  time  to  be  of  great  service  to  his 
neighbors  and  the  party  in  public  positions,  and  has  been  at 
various  times  School  Commissioner,  Commissioner  of  High- 
ways, Assessor,  Collector,  Uuder-Sheriff,  Assistant  Assessor 
of  Internal  Revenue,  and  Supervisor,  holding  the  last  named 
office  in  the  years  1858,  1859,  1805.  1800,  1807  and  1868. 
In  all  these  positions  he  has  shown  large  administrative 
capacity,  and  in  each  has  developed  the  ability  suited  to  the 


312  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

exigency.  He  was  elected  to  the  last  Assembly  by  a  majority 
of  764,  and  served  his  constituents  faithfully  as  a  member  of 
the  Villages  and  Indian  Affairs  Committees.  His  majority 
last  fall  was  reduced  to  202,  but  that  is  not  a  matter  of  sur- 
prise in  a  county  which  occasionally  sends  a  Democrat  to 
the  Assembly.  His  opponent  was  Judge  DAVID  SPEAKER,  a 
very  prominent  and  influential  citizen  of  the  same  town, 
and  though  the  town  is  usually  Democratic  by  50  majority, 
Mr.  VAX  DUSEX  carried  it  by  129  majority.  This  year  he  is 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Villages,  and  a  member  of 
the  Committee  on  Expenditures  of  the  Executive  Depart- 
ment. He  also  ranks  among  the  honest  workers  of  the 
Assembly,  and  is  quiet,  dignified  and  somewhat  reserved  in 
manner. 


J.  W.  VAN  VALKEXBURGH. 


The  member  from  the  Third  district  of  Albany  county  is 
a  solid,  substantial  looking  gentleman,  in  the  prime  of  life. 
Square,  compact  and  muscular  in  physique,  his  countenance 
and  physiognomy  denote  an  individuality  in  which  force 
and  determination  predominate;  a  man.  in  fact,  who  is  quite 
apt  to  succeed  in  any  thing  he  undertakes,  and  who,  pos- 
sessed of  large  business  capacity  and  sound  sense,  is  pecu- 
liarly well  qualified  to  legislate  for  such  a  commercial  and  busi- 
ness center  as  is  the  city  of  Albany.  Mr.  VAN  VALKEXBURGH 
was  born  in  Chatham,  Columbia  county,  June  23,  1826. 
His  parents,  both  deceased,  were  JAMES  B.  and  CLORIXDA 
VAX  R.  VAX  VALKENTBURGH,  also  natives  of  Columbia 
county,  his  father  being  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Young  VAX  VALKEXBURGH  received  an  ample  common 
school  education,  and,  being  brought  up  partially  on  a  farm, 
he  was  well  qualified  to  begin  the  battle  of  life  when  he 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  followed  farming  and 
milling  for  a  number  of  years,  and  has  since  been  engaged 


J.  W.   VAN  VALKENBURGH.  313 

in  a  variety  of  occupations.  He  was  Town  Collector  at  one 
time,  then  became  a  Kailroacl  Conductor,  and  was  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Albany  and  Susquehanna  Eailroad  for  four 
years  prior  to  its  being  leased  to  the  Delaware  and  Hudson 
Canal  Company.  While  in  this  position  he  figured  promi- 
nently in  what  was  known  as  the  "  Susquehanna  Eailroad 
war,"  which  arose  from  an  attempt  of  the  late  JAMES  FISK, 
Jr.,  and  the  Erie  Eailway  Company  to  take  possession  of  the 
Susquehanna  Eoad.  Mr.  VAN  V.  was  called  upon  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duty  to  throw  Mr.  FISK  down  the  stairs  of  the 
Susquehanna  office  in  Albany,  and  there  are  a  number  of 
witnesses  who  attest  that  he  performed  the  task  with  remark- 
able celerity.  He  is  still  more  or  less  interested  in  railroads, 
but  is  actively  engaged  in  the  cement,  lime  and  stone  busi- 
ness. 

During  the  Rebellion  Mr.  VAN  VALKENBURGH  went  to 
the  front  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  E,  128th  New  York  Vol- 
unteers (the  Columbia  and  Dutchess  county  regiment),  Col. 
COWLES  commanding.  He  Avent  to  New  Orleans  under  Gen. 
BANKS,  who  was  directed  to  relieve  Gen.  BUTLER,  and  parti- 
cipated in  the  subsequent  Louisiana  and  Eed  River  campaigns, 
being  actively  engaged  at  Port  Hudson,  and  in  all  the  arduous 
service  before  and  after  that  stronghold  fell. 

In  politics  he  has  been  a  life-long  Democrat,  and,  as  such, 
represented  the  second  district  of  Columbia  county  in  the 
Assembly  in  1866,  defeating  JONATHAN  R.  RIDER  by  100 
majority,  and  being  the  first  Democrat  elected  from  the  dis- 
trict in  thirteen  years.  In  the  recent  canvass  he  had  two 
candidates  opposed  to  him,  CHAS.  P.  E  ASTON,  a  popular  and 
influential  Republican,  and  LAFAYETTE  CASE,  an  independ- 
ent Democratic  candidate,  but  his  popularity  was  such  that 
he  received  131  majority  over  both,  although  the  Republicans 
carried  the  district  by  a  small  majority  in  the  previous  elec- 
tion. He  is  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Banks,  State 
Charitable  Institutions,  and  Expenditures  of  the  House,  and 
is  in  all  respects  an  able  and  intelligent  legislator. 


314  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


COMMODORE  P.  VEDDER. 


Few  members  of  the  present  Assembly  exert  a  more  com- 
manding influence  or  possess  greater  legislative  talent  than 
Mr.  VEDDER.  He  is  known  throughout  the  State  as  an 
active,  earnest  and  independent  Republican,  who,  while 
unswerving  in  his  party  fealty,  is  nevertheless  incapable  of 
being  made  the  tool  of  cliques  or  rings.  He  is  a  man  of 
exceptionally  clear  views  of  public  interest  as  well  as  of 
party  policy,  while  his  convictions  regarding  all  questions 
are  the  result  of  careful  reflection  and  the  exercise  of  sound 
judgment.  When  once  formed  they  are  tenaciously 
adhered  to. 

Mr.  VEDDEK  is  the  son  of  American  parents,  his  father, 
JACOB  VEDDER,  being  an  industrious  Cattaraugus  county 
farmer.  He  was  born  in  Ellicottville,  his  present  place  of 
residence,  on  the  23d  of  February,  1838.  Before  reaching 
man's  estate  he  spent  five  years  as  a  sailor  on  the  lakes.  He 
secured  a  good  education,  partially  in  the  common  schools,  but 
mainly  in  the  Springville  Academy,  which  he  entered  in  his 
twentieth  year.  Afterward  he  studied  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1866.  In  1862,  after  teaching  school 
a  few  months,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  154th  regiment, 
New  York  Volunteers,  and  remained  with  the  regiment  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  participating  with  uniform  credit  to 
himself  in  the  battles  of  Chaneellorsville,  "Wauhatchie, 
Lookout  Valley.  Lookout  Mountain,  Chattanooga,  Rocky- 
faced  Ridge,  Siege  of  Savannah,  and  Bentonville.  He  bore 
an  honorable  part  in  SHERMAN'S  celebrated  march  to 
Atlanta  and  the  sea,  and  for  his  gallant  conduct  in  that  cam- 
paign and  at  Lookout  Mountain  he  was  promoted  success- 
ively to  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  Volunteers,  1st  'Lieutenant, 
Captain  and  Brevet  Major.  L'.  S.  A.  His  war  record  ie 
therefore  something  to  be  proud  of. 


COMMODORE  P.  VEDDER.  315 

When  the  Avar  ended  Mr.  VEDDER  commenced  the  practice 
of  the  legal  profession,  in  which  he  has  continued  to  the 
present  time  with  marked  success.  In  1867  he  was 
appointed  Register  in  Bankruptcy,  and  still  holds  the  office. 
He  was  also  Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue  from  May  10, 
1869,  until  May  4,  1871,  filling  the  office,  as  he  fills  every 
position,  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  one  interested.  In  the 
fall  of  1871,  he  was  elected  member  of  Assembly  by  a  major- 
ity of  401,  defeating  CHARLES  S.  GARY,  his  Democratic  com- 
petitor. Last  fall  he  defeated  the  same  opponent  by  a 
majority  of  688,  after  a  very  sharp  canvass,  in  which  the 
combined  strength  of  the  Liberal  Republican  and  Demo- 
cratic elements  was  brought  against  him,  and  herculean 
efforts  made  to  defeat  him. 

Mr.  VEDDER'S  course  in  the  Assembly  has  been  in  every 
way  creditable  to  himself  and  to  his  constituents.  Last  year 
he  served  on  the  Judiciary  Committee,  of  which  he  is  still  a 
prominent  member,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  investiga- 
tion into  the  conduct  of  the  New  York  judges.  He  was  also 
Chairman  of  the  committee  which  drew  up  the  articles  of 
impeachment  against  Judge  BARNARD,  and  was  one  of  the 
managers  selected  by  the  House  to  conduct  the  trial  of  that 
unworthy  wearer  of  the  ermine.  His  connection  with  these 
momentous  proceedings  aided  largely  in  developing  his  fine 
legal  talents,  and  added  greatly  to  his  reputation.  He  has 
also  been  prominently  identified  with  much  of  the  important 
legislation  of  this  and  the  last  session,  serving  on  several 
committees  faithfully  and  well. 

As  an  orator,  Mr.  VEDDER  has  few  equals.  Though  he 
always  speaks  extemporaneously,  and  often  without  prepara- 
tion, his  efforts  upon  the  floor  are  generally  models  of  com- 
pact symmetrical  argument.  He  clothes  his  ideas  in  direct 
and  forcible,  yet  elegant,  phraseology;  sometimes  bold  almost 
to  audacity  in  his  utterances,  especially  when  discussing 
political  questions,  he  frequently  rises  to  heights  of  eloquence 
attained  by  few  public  speakers. 


316  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Previous  to  the  war,  Mr.  VEDDER  was  a  Democrat,  but  the 
reverberation  of  the  first  gun  at  Sumter  affected  him  much 
as  it  did  thousands  of  other  honest  Democrats  throughout 
the  State.  The  so-called  Democracy  was  effectually  elimi- 
nated from  his  political  constitution.  He  has  since  acted 
consistently  with  the  Republican  party,  and  is  popular  with 
men  of  all  parties,  as  his  personal  and  social  qualities  are  of 
the  most  genial  character.  Whether  we  regard  him  in  his 
private  or  public  life,  he  is  above  reproach,  and  is  in  all 
respects  an  honest,  able  and  efficient  legislator.  He  is  a  man 
of  fine  personal  appearance  and  unusually  pleasing  address, 
and  evidently  has  a  brilliant  career  yet  before  him. 


WILLIAM  VOORHIS. 


Mr.  VOORHIS  occupies  his  present  position  by  virtue  of 
indomitable  energy,  persistent  industry  and  inflexible  integ- 
rity. As  the  result  of  a  long  and  successful  business  career, 
began  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder,  he  possesses  large  wealth, 
which  he  quietly  enjoys  in  well-earned  retirement  when  not 
engaged  in  political  duties. 

He  was  born  at  Xyack,  June  26,  1819,  and  is,  therefore, 
nearly  fifty-four  years  of  age.  though  he  possesses  the  activity 
of  a  man  of  forty.  His  father,  JACOB  VOORHIS,  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  his  mother,  born  in  Eockland  county,  are 
still  living  on  the  estate  they  have  occupied  since  their  mar- 
riage, which,  by  the  way,  was  in  the  family  before  New  York 
became  a  State,  Mr.  VOORHIS'  ancestors  on  both  sides  settling 
in  Eockland  county  before  the  revolution. 

Mr.  VOORHIS  attended  the  common  schools  in  his  youth, 
but  he  is  for  the  most  part  self-educated.  He  commenced 
life  as  a  boatman,  and  before  he  settled  down  to  commercial 
pursuits  he  had  considerable  experience  of  the  sea,  for  which 


WILLIAM  VOORHIS.  317 

he  had  a  decided  predilection.  Indeed,  this  predilection  still 
clings  to  him,  as  he  is  the  fortunate  owner  of  the  yacht  Tidal 
Wave,  and  has  been  Commodore  of  the  New  York  Yacht 
Club.  He  is,  in  fact,  an  authority  in  yachting  matters,  and 
is  well  known  among  nautical  men.  Most  of  his  life,  np  to 
live  past  six  years,  during  which  he  has  been  in  retirement, 
has  been  spent  in  commercial  pursuits  in  Brooklyn  and  New 
York,  and  the  fact  that  he  has  been  able  to  retire  with  a 
comfortable  fortune  is  a  sufficient  indication  of  his  success. 

He  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  politics,  usually 
acting  with  the  Democrats ;  his  course,  however,  is  invariably 
dictated  rather  by  his  judgment  of  Avhat  is  right,  than  allegi- 
ance to  party.  During  the  rebellion  he  was  a  strong  War 
Democrat.  He  raised  the  first  company  of  volunteers  organ- 
ized in  the  county,  and  was  otherwise  very  active  on  behalf 
of  the  Union.  At  that  time  sympathy  with  secession  was 
predominant  in  Ilockland  county,  and,  indeed,  so  bitter  was 
the  feeling  that  Mr.  VOORHIS  was  actually  mobbed  for  his 
loyalty,  and  his  life  was  threatened.  He,  however,  took 
measures  to  defend  himself,  and  manfully  persisted  in  the 
course  he  had  marked  out  for  himself. 

His  present  position  in  the  Assembly  is  his  first  appear- 
ance in  public  political  life,  and  the  honor  which  his  fellow- 
citizens  saw  fit  to  bestow  upon  him  was  entirely  unsought. 
He  had  taken  a  somewhat  medium  ground,  and  was  therefore 
supported  by  men  of  both  parties.  He  carries  his  independence 
into  the  House,  and,  though  nominally  a  Democrat,  he  has 
on  several  occasions  followed  the  dictates  of  his  judgment 
and  voted  with  the  Republicans  on  party  questions.  He 
takes  frequent  part  in  the  debates  on  the  floor,  and.  though 
not  specially  gifted  with  the  graces  of  oratory,  he  is  a  iluent 
speaker,  and  says  what  he  has  to  say  in  a  straightforward, 
practical  manner. 

He  was  married,  about  nine  years  ago,  to  Miss  SUSAN  E. 
LYON.  lie  once  belonged  to  the  Methodist  church,  but  his 
views  are  now  more  nearlv  in  harmonv  with  what  is  known 


318  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

as  the  Armenian  creed.  The  fact  that  Mr.  VOORHIS  com- 
menced life  poor,  and  without  any  adventitious  aids,  and 
has  worked  his  way  up  to  his  present  position  solely  by  his 
own  exertions,  shows  in  strong  light  what  can  be  attained 
by  well-directed  energy  and  perseverance. 


DANIEL  WALKER. 


A  plain,  substantial  and  prosperous  agriculturist  repre- 
sents the  Fourth  district  of  Oneida,  in  the  present  Assembly ; 
a  man  who  is  as  thoroughly  proof  against  the  evil  influences 
surrounding  the  capitol  as  he  is  faithful  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty  to  his  constituents. 

DANIEL  WALKER  was  born  in  the  town  of  Deerfield,  his 
present  home,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1807.  In  point  of  age  he 
is  therefore  the  patriarch  of  the  House  by  several  years. 
His  father,  ALEXANDER  WALKER,  was  born  in  Wearthshire, 
Scotland,  in  1778,  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1803,  was 
married  in  1804,  to  ANNA  McERCHER,  of  Broadalbiu,  Fulton 
county,  and  the  same  year  settled  in  Deerfield,  then  a  dense 
wilderness,  and  devoted  himself  to  farming.  Young  WALKER 
was  born  and  reared  amid  the  privations  of  pioneer  life,  but 
he  attended  school  quite  regularly,  and  secured  a  good  ordi- 
nary education.  His  tastes  led  him  to  second  the  wish  of 
his  father  that  he  should  remain  a  farmer,  and  he  has  there- 
fore followed  that  pursuit  all  his  life,  having  occupied  the 
farm  which  he  now  owns  for  the  past  forty  years,  and  managed 
it  successfully.  In  1832,  he  married  NANCY  MCLAREN,  a 
member  of  an  estimable  family  in  Johnstown,  Fulton  county. 
Through  his  whole  life  he  has  borne  a  reputation  for 
honesty  and  probity  of  character,  ami  since  early  youth  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  son,  ALEX- 
ANDER WALKER,  served  through  the  recent  rebellion  as 


DANIEL  WALKER.  319 

Major  in  the  7th  Michigan  Cavalry,  participating  in  some 
fifty  skirmishes  and  battles,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg!!. 

Mr.  WALKER  has  always  taken  a  warm  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  and  as  a  Whig,  and  afterward  as  a  Republican,  has 
exercised  large  influence  in  the  towns  composing  his  Assem- 
bly district.  He  voted  for  HARRISON  in  1840,  for  CLAY  in 
1844,  for  TAYLOR  in  1848,  for  SCOTT  in  1852,  for  LINCOLN 
in  1860  and  1864,  and  for  GRANT  in  1868  and  1872.  He 
also  voted  for  WM.  H.  SEW  A  ED  the  last  time  he  was  returned 
to  the  United  States  Senate  in  1855,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Philadelphia  Convention  of  1872,  which  re-nominated  Presi- 
dent GRANT.  Comment  upon  such  a  record  is  needless. 
He  has  once  before  been  a  member  of  the  Legislature.  In 
1855  he  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  by  the  Whigs  of  his 
district,  defeating  SALMON  D.  ROOT  by  about  900  votes. 
Last  fall  his  majority  was  just  1,000,  against  a  Republican 
majority  of  658  the  previous  year,  his  opponent  being 
CHARLES  B.  COVENTRY,  a  Democrat  of  considerable  popu- 
larity. Besides  his  legislative  honors,  Mr.  WALKER,  while  he 
was  a  Whig,  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  Deerfield 
during  a  number  of  years,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  it 
was  at  that  time  a  Democratic  town. 

Mr.  WALKER  is  seldom  absent  from  his  seat  in  the  House, 
and  attends  to  his  duties  quietly  and  effectively,  being  at  all 
times  keenlv  alive  to  the  interests  of  his  constituents. 


320  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


JAMES  WATT. 


Dr.  WATT,  the  member  from  the  Fourth  district  of 
Brooklyn,  was  born  in  1844.  His  parents  were  Scotch,  and 
were  noted  for  those  habits  of  industry,  frugality  and 
personal  integrity  which  so  generally  characterize  their 
countrymen.  From  them  young  WATT  inherited  the  valu- 
able patrimony  of  self-reliance,  perseverance,  and  inflexible 
adherence  to  known  duty.  In  1859  he  removed,  with 
other  members  of  the  family,  from  Poughkeepsie  to  Brooklyn, 
where,  from  1860  to  1864,  he  was  engaged  as  a  drug  clerk. 
During  the  two  following  years  we  find  him  the  proprietor 
and  manager  of  a  flourishing  drug  store  on  Fulton  avenue. 
By  the  means  and  knowledge  thus  acquired  he  was  enabled 
to  prosecute  with  success  at  Bellevue  Hospital  and  in  the 
Long  Island  Medical  College  his  favorite  study  of  medicine. 
From  the  time  of  his  admission  into  the  parish  school  of 
Christ's  church,  Poughkeepsie,  until  the  day  of  his  gradua- 
tion, in  1866,  he  exhibited  that  enthusiasm,  energy,  persist- 
ency and  unity  of  purpose  which  usually  guarantee  success. 
Soon  after  his  graduation  Dr.  WATT  spent  some  time  abroad, 
where  he  visited  the  principal  hospitals  and  medical  institu- 
tions of  Great  Britain  and  France.  The  noble  sentiment  of 
TERENCE,  '•'  I  am  a  man,  and  nothing  human  can  be  foreign 
to  me,"  finds  response  in  the  sympathetic  nature  of  every 
true  physician.  The  medical  profession,  perhaps,  more  than 
any  other,  demands  and  invites  tender  sympathy  with  the 
suffering.  In  common  with  other  philanthropic  physicians 
of  the  Long  Island  College  Hospital,  Dr.  WATT  has  for 
several  years  devoted  some  hours  daily  to  that  institution,  for 
the  gratuitous  treatment  of  the  worthy  poor.  Recently  he 
has  extended  these  benevolent  labors  to  the  South  Brooklyn 
Dispensary,  which  institution  has  honored  him  as  one  of  its 
founders  by  appointing  him  to  the  vice-presidency.  Though 


JAMES  WATT.  321 

always  a  firm  Republican,  Dr.  WATT  has  never  been  a  poli- 
tician. His  election  from  a  district  which  has  not  for  years 
sent  a  Republican  to  the  Assembly,  is  one  of  the  significant 
signs  of  the  political  reforms  now  in  progress.  This  election 
must  also  be  regarded  as  the  spontaneous  expression  of  the 
people's  heartfelt  appreciation  of  those  benevolent  medical 
gentlemen  to  whose  generous  services  the  community  is  so 
largely  indebted.  Genuine  courtesy  consists  not  in  mere 
prudential  self-praise,  superficial  polish  or  severity  of  man- 
ners; its  seat  is  the  heart  and  its  law  the  golden  rule,  as 
applied  to  the  varied  intercourse  of  life.  Education  and 
association  with  the  refined  at  home  and  abroad  may  develop, 
but  can  never  produce  it.  Wherever  such  courtesy  exists  it 
secures  social  power  for  its  possessor. 

It  is  generally  admitted  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
possesses  this  quality,  and  that  it  constitutes  an  important 
element  of  his  strength. 

There  is  yet  another  feature  in  the  character  of  Dr.  WATT 
which  must  not  be  overlooked  in  any  life  sketch  of  him.  We 
mean  his  unflinching  fidelity  and  unswerving  tenacity  to 
friends.  He  practices  the  great  counsel  of  the  poet :  "  The 
friends  thou  hast,  and  their  adoption  tried,  grapple  them  to 
thy  soul  with  hooks  of  steel." 


322  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


SMITH  M.  WEED. 


SMITH  MEAD  WEED  was  born  in  the  town  of  Belmont, 
Franklin  county,  N.  Y.,  July  26th,  1833.  His  father,  Ros- 
WELL  ALCOTT  WEED,  was  born  at  Lebanon,  N".  H.,  1798,  and 
died  at  Plattsburgh,  1ST.  Y.,  in  the  year  1869.  His  mother, 
SARAH  A.  MEAD,  a  daughter  of  SMITH  MEAD,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Clinton  county,  and  who  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Plattsburgh,  is  still  living. 

Mr.  WEED,  after  receiving  a  good  common  school  and 
academic  education,  attended  the  Harvard  University  Law 
School,  where  he  graduated  in  1857,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Laws.  He  immediately  entered  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  Plattsburgh,  becoming  a  copartner  with 
Messrs.  BECKWITH  &  JOHNSOK  of  that  place.  He  very 
soon  displayed  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  skill  in  his  pro- 
fession, and,  from  1857  to  1865,  was  constantly  occupied  with 
its  duties.  In  1865,  Mr.  WEED  was  elected  President  of  the 
village  of  Plattsburgh,  which  office  he  continued  to  fill  for  a 
number  of  terms.  In  the  same  year  he  first  appeared  in 
political  life  as  Member  of  the  Assembly  from  Clinton 
county.  He  was  returned  to  the  Legislature  for  the  two  fol- 
lowing years,  and  in  1866  received  from  his  party  the  com- 
pliment of  being  its  candidate  for  Speaker. 

In  1867,  Mr.  WEED  was  elected  Delegate-at-Large  to  the 
Constitutional  Convention.  One  of  his  speeches  made  in 
that  body  on  the  separate  submission  of  the  negro  suffrage 
clause,  attracted  considerable  attention  at  the  time.  In  it  he- 
avowed  his  belief  that  the  colored  people  of  the  State 
possessed  sufficient  capacity  and  intelligence  to  vote.  Ho 
had,  in  1865,  voted  for  the  amendment  to  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  prohibiting  slavery,  and  in  the  Assem- 
bly, in  1867,  urged  that  the  negroes  of  the  State  be  allowed 
to  vote  for  delegates  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention. 


SMITH  M.  WEED.  323 

In  fact,  Mr.  WEED  then  occupied  the  liberal  ground  which 
his  party  have  rather  slowly  come  up  to  since,  and  was  cer- 
tainly one  of  the  first  Democrats  in  the  country  to  urge  the 
propriety  of  the  "  New  Departure." 

In  1868,  Mr.  WEED  was  engaged  as  senior  counsel,  on  the 
part  of  the  State,  by  the  managers  of  the  impeachment  of 
Canal  Commissioner  DORN.  He  made  the  principal  argu- 
ment for  the  prosecution  in  that  case,  which  is  reported  in 
the  volume  of  the  proceedings  at  that  trial. 

In  1871  Mr.  WEED  was  again  returned  to  the  Legislature 
from  Clinton  county.  During  this  term,  when  "Tammany" 
was  in  the  very  pride  of  its  strength,  he  came,  almost  single- 
handed,  in  collision  with  its  schemes.  As  a  member  of  the 
then  Railroad  Committee,  he  successfully  resisted  the  designs 
of  the  strikers  upon  the  Delaware  and  Hudson  Canal  Com- 
pany. He,  as  a  member  of  that  Committee,  proposed  and 
submitted  to  the  Assembly  a  minority  report  in  favor  of  the 
repeal  of  the  Erie  Classification  Act.  That  report  was  con- 
sidered an  able  statement  of  the  question,  and  came  within 
one  vote  of  carrying  against  the  full  power  of  Tammany 
and  Erie.  It  was  the  first  official  document  which  denounced 
the  Erie  Ring  in  unmeasured  terms. 

For  this  Tammany  did  not  forgive  him,  and  although  his 
desire  to  adhere  to  his  party  led  him  to  support,  in  common 
Avith  other  Democrats,  such  bills  as  had  been  made  party- 
measures  at  this  session,  he  Avas  thereafter  regarded  as  an 
enemy  of  the  then  party-controlling  influence.  He  Avas  bru- 
tally assaulted  by  the  notorious  JAMES  IRVING,  then  apower 
Avith  the  '•'  Ring,"  for  which  assault  IRVING  Avas  promptly 
driven  from  the  Assembly. 

Since  ISGo  Mr.  WEED  has  been  a  leading  man  in  North 
Eastern  New  York,  not  only  in  its  politics,  but  in  its  various 
business  interests,  lie  is  now  largely  concerned  in  (lie 
lumbering  and  mining  business  of  Clinton  county.  He  has 
done  much  to  call  attention  to  the  resources  of  that  quarter 
of  the  State,  and  has  labored  with  great  earnestness  for  some 


324  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

time  to  bring  railroad  facilities  to  the  country  along  the 
western  shore  of  Lake  Champlain.  He  forwarded  very  con- 
siderably the  enterprises  of  the  railroad  on  the  west  side  of 
Lake  Cham  plain,  and  the  recent  formation  of  the  New  York 
and  Canada  Railroad  Company  with  the  design  of  pushing 
a  through  road  from  Whitehall  to  Montreal,  on  the  west  side, 
is  due  almost  solely  to  his  untiring  efforts. 

In  business,  Mr.  WEED  is  enterprising  and  sagacious.  As 
a  lawyer  and  political  speaker,  he  commands  attention  more 
by  the  substance  of  his  matter  than  by  any  graces  of  diction 
or  manner.  He  has  not  the  "gift  of  gab  "  or  facility  of 
fluent  declamation.  His  ideas  are  always  put  into  the 
plainest  and  shortest  words.  He  needs  antagonism  to  bring 
him  out,  and  is  strongest  in  debate  and  repartee. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  is  greatly 
attached  to  the  fundamental  ideas  of  that  party.  He  has 
always  stood  on  the  side  of  liberality  and  progress.  Even  in 
his  first  term  in  the  Legislature  he  became  noted  for  his 
advocacy  of  the  Free  School  Law. 

Mr.  WEED  was  married  September  6,  1859,  to  CARRIE  L. 
STAXDISH,  seventh  in  lineal  descent  from  MILES  STAXDISH, 
of  Plymouth,  and  daughter  of  Col.  M.  M.  STAXDISH,  late  of 
Pittsburgh. 

He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  of  1873  by  about  250 
majority,  although  his  county  went  for  GRANT  by  about  500 
majority. 


EDWARD  B.  WELLS.  325 


EDWARD  B.  WELLS. 


The  subject  of  this  sketcli  was  born  in  Prattsburgh, 
N.  Y.,  April  22,  1835,  and  is  consequently  nearly  thirty-eight 
years  of  age.  His  father.  IRA  WELLS,  and  his  mother,  PA- 
MELIA  TAYLOR,  are  still  living,  and  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  last  September,  with  their  children  and  their 
children's  children  to  the  fourth  generation,  a  family  as  yet 
unbroken  by  death.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  fourth 
of  seven  children.  His  parents  removed  in  1838  to  Lyons, 
where  he  received  such  educational  advantages  as  are  afforded 
by  the  excellent  Union  School  in  that  village.  In  1850  he 
was  apprenticed  to  the  business  of  marble-cutting.  Com- 
pleting his  trade,  he  moved  to  Cherry  Valley,  Otsego  county, 
where  he  started  in  business  on  his  own  account;  —  in  an 
humble  way,  of  course,  for  he  had  no  capital  beyond  his 
own  modest  savings;  soon  after  removing  to  Fort  Plain, 
where  lie  drove  a  thriving  trade  for  about  three  years.  We 
then  find  him  back  at  Lyons,  and  a  little  later  settled  at 
Clyde,  the  owner  of  the  marble-shops  in  both  of  those  towns, 
and  one  in  Canada  ;  besides  that,  a  prominent  member  and 
director  of  a  paper  manufacturing  company,  and  a  heavy 
dealer  in  real  estate.  With  scarcely  an  exception,  all  of  Mr. 
WELLS'  numerous  ventures  have  proved  successful,  thanks 
to  his  skillful  management ;  and  his  friends  and  neighbors, 
in  the  belief  that  a  man  who  conducts  his  own  affairs  suc- 
cessfully, and  at  the  same  time  honorably,  may  safely  be 
intrusted  with  those  of  others,  were  not:  slow  to  name  him 
(though  not  through  his  seeking)  for  positions  of  public 
trust  in  the  community,  lie  acquitted  himself  honorably 
of  the  duties  imposed  upon  him,  and  in  1870,  respond- 
ing to  the  almost  unanimous  wish  of  the  Republicans 
of  the  town  of  Galen,  he  accepted  the  nomination  for  Super- 
visor. His  opponent  was  an  old  resident  of  the  town,  a  very 


326  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

respectable,  a  very  worthy  gentleman,  and  personally 
popular  —  with  the  advantage,  which  was  no  small  one,  of 
his  town  having  for  two  consecutive  years  previously,  and 
several  times  besides,  elected  a  Democrat  for  Supervisor. 
Mr.  WELLS  was,  however,  elected  by  a  majority  of  138.  His 
majority,  as  well  as  his  vote,  exceeding  that  of  any  other 
candidate  on  the  ticket.  In  1871  he  Avas  again  nominated 
and  again  elected,  this  time  by  a  majority  of  287.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year  his  name  was  prominently  mentioned  in 
•connection  with  the  position  of  Member  of  Assembly  from 
eastern  Wayne  ;  and  the  wishes  of  his  party  being  expressed 
through  its  Convention,  he  was  nominated,  and  elected  in 
November  by  a  majority  of  250.  Serving  his  district  with 
the  same  fidelity  and  the  same  zeal  displayed  by  him  in 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  he  was  in  1872  re-nominated 
and  re-elected,  this  time  having  a  majority  of  494,  or 
nearly  double  that  of  the  previous  year.  In  both  of  these 
campaigns  his  opponents  were  gentlemen  of  conceded 
influence  and  standing,  who  conducted  the  canvass  on  their 
side  with  acknowledged  shrewdness  and  liberality ;  and  in 
both  the  opposition  was  concentrated  upon  Mr.  WELLS,  with 
the  determination  to  defeat  him,  if  such  a  thing  were  possi- 
ble. How  they  succeeded,  let  the  figures  show.  It  was 
enough  to  succeed  at  all,  under  such  circumstances,  but  to 
conic  off  with  such  majorities  was  victory  indeed. 

Mr.  WELLS,  though  not  the  man  to  thrust  himself  into 
conspicuousness,  is  one  of  the  most  generally  respected 
and  thoroughly  reliable  members  of  the  House.  In  the 
Assembly  of  1872,  he  served  upon  the  Committees  on 
Trade  and  Manufactures,  and  Affairs  of  Villages,  and  in  the 
present  Assembly  he  has  places  upon  the  same  committees, 
being  Chairman  of  the  one  first  named.  He  is  a  caivl'ul 
legislator,  observing  closely  the  proceedings  of  the  Assembly, 
and  bringing  into  his  legislative  business  the  same  practical 
common-sense  that  has  insured  his  success  in  every-day 
affairs.  Always  prudent,  thoughtful,  and  considerate,  he 


GEORGE  WEST.  327 

makes  no  pretensions  as  an  orator,  but  his  remarks  never 
fail  to  command  attention  because  of  their  earnestness  and 
directness. 

Mr.  WELLS'  life  furnishes  a  practical  illustration  of  the 
beneficence  of  our  American  institutions,  under  which  a 
man  may  rise,  by  his  own  exertions,  to  an  independent, 
honorable  position.  He  is  one  of  the  kind  of  men  we  are 
glad  to  see  honored:  a  man  who  has  made  himself  what 
he  is. 


GEORGE  WEST. 


Mr.  WEST  is  also  an  excellent  representative  of  the  success- 
ful business  man.  By  dint  of  energy,  sagacity  and  persevering 
industry,  he  has  risen  in  a  few  years  from  comparative  poverty 
to  opulence,  and  is  now  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  in 
the  eastern  section  of  the  State.  His  career  is  instructive  and 
worthy  of  emulation.  Born  in  Keentsbeer,  Devonshire  county, 
England,  on  the  17th  of  February,  1823,  of  parents  in  moder- 
ate circumstances,  he  had  very  little  adventitious  aid  in 
making  a  future  for  himself.  He  received  a  good  common 
school  education,  however,  and  inherited  from  his  parents 
industrious  habits  and  a  robust  constitution.  With  these  as 
his  capital  he  commenced  the  battle  of  life.  His  father  and 
uncle  were  paper-makers,  but  he  served  a  thorough  apprentice- 
ship with  JOHN"  DEWDXEY,  one  of  the  leading  manufacturers 
in  the  west  of  England,  learning  the  business  in  all  its 
branches.  Soon  after  reaching  his  majority  he  married  an 
English  girl,  whose  prudent  management  and  wise  counsel, 
no  doubt,  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  his  success.  He 
soon  discovered  that  England  failed  to  afford  full  scope  for 
his  abilities,  and  in  3849,  when  he  had  readied  his  twenty- 
sixth  year,  he  came  with  his  young  wife  to  this  country. 
When  he  arrived  on  our  shores  he  Avas  almost  penniless,  but 
he  possessed  a  good  stock  of  indomitable  pluck.  lie  procured 


328  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

employment  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  worked  about  a  year. 
From  there  he  went  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  obtained  em- 
ployment in  a  paper  mill  as  an  ordinary  operative,  continu- 
ing in  that  capacity  about  three  years.  Ultimately  his 
employers  discerned  and  appreciated  his  value,  and  he  soon 
found  himself  the  responsible  manager  of  one  of  the  largest 
manufactories  of  writing  paper  in  the  Bay  State.  During 
several  years'  experience  in  that  position,  he  rapidly  developed 
the  sterling  qualities  by  which  he  finally  won  success;  and 
before  he  had  been  ten  years  in  this  country  he  became  a 
partner  in  an  extensive  paper  mill.  In  the  year  1860  he  sold 
out  his  business  in  Massachusetts,  and  seeing  a  favorable 
opening  at  Ballston  Spa,  removed  thither.  How  well  time 
has  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of  his  venture  is  shown  by  the 
fact  that  he  is  now  sole  proprietor  of  five  large  paper  mills, 
all  of  which  are  run  exclusively  on  manilla  paper,  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  grocers'  bags,  and  also  a  paper  bag  manu- 
factory, which  turns  out  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  million 
of  those  bags  per  year,  transacting  in  connection  therewith 
a  business  which  averages  about  865,000  monthly.  He  is 
also  an  equal  partner  in  the  firm  of  G-AIR  &  WEST,  a  principal 
depot  for  the  sale  of  paper,  paper  bags  and  twine,  located  at 
No.  143  Reade  street,  New  York,  as  well  as  director  in  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Ballston  Spa,  and  the  largest  indi- 
vidual stockholder  in  the  Bank. 

In  personal  appearance,  Mr.  WEST  is  a  good  specimen  of 
the  sturdy  Briton.  Though  short  of  stature,  his  robust  fprm 
and  broad  shoulders  seem  well  able  to  carry  the  massive  and 
well-developed  head,  which  seems  a  fit  repository  for  a  brain 
of  more  than  ordinary  activity.  He  bears  with  him,  however, 
the  air  and  manner  of  one  who  has  earned  the  right  to  take 
the  world  easy,  and  the  geniality  characterizing  his  inter- 
course with  others  strengthens  such  an  impression  in  the 
mind  of  one  who  judges  men  by  first  impressions.  He  is  a 
man  of  much  earnestness  of  character,  and  is  still  a  hard 
worker,  carrying  much  of  his  energy  and  thoroughness  in 


ELISHA  S.  W HAL  EX.  329 

the  committee  rooms,  though  he  very  rarely  attempts  to 
make  more  than  a  brief  and  pointed  off-hand  speech  on  the 
floor  of  the  House. 

Mr.  WEST  has  always  been  an  ardent  Kepublican,  and 
enjoys  a  large  degree  of  popularity  in  his  own  district,  as  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  he  was  elected  to  the  last  Assem- 
bly by  the  large  majority  of  1,166  over  WH.  T.  ODELL,  his 
Democratic  competitor.  Last  fall  he  was  re-elected  without 
opposition,  no  other  candidate  being  nominated,  and  is  the 
only  member  of  the  Assembly  having  no  vote  against  him. 


ELISHA   S.  WHALEN. 


Mr.  WHALEN"  was  born  in  the  town  of  Milton,  Saratoga 
county,  N.  Y.,  March  24,  1817.  He  had  common  school  ad- 
vantages until  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  when  his  business  life 
commenced  as  clerk  in  a  country  store  at  Eock  City  Falls, 
where  he  remained  about  two  years ;  thence  he  went  to  West 
Milton  in  the  same  capacity,  remaining  there  until  November, 
1836,  when  he  left  for  western  New  York,  spending  the  fol- 
lowing winter  with  his  father's  family  in  Monroe  county, 
whither  they  had  preceded  him  by  two  or  three  years.  He 
went  to  the  village  of  Medina,  in  March,  1837,  poor  and 
unknown,  but  armed  with  a  letter  signed  by  the  then  prom- 
inent men  of  Milton  and  Ballston  Spa,  '-'commending  him 
to  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  might 
make  cither  acquaintance  or  business."  Securing  a  situation 
at  v»nce  with  a  prominent  firm,  carrying  on  a  large  country 
store,  post-office,  grain  warehouse  and  a  potash  factory,  he 
commenced  a  new  business  career  at  810  per  month  on 
trial;  after  two  months'  service  he  was  promoted  to  the 
situation  of  book-keeper,  confidential  clerk  and  $400  per 
annum,  then  the  largest  salarv  paid  in  the  village.  He  has 

O  J      1  O 

been  in  active  business  life  since  as  subordinate  or  principal, 


330  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

having  been  engaged  in  merchandising,  merchant,  milling, 
and  as  produce  dealer  since  18-41,  retiring  last  September  (on 
account  of  impaired  health)  on  a  moderate  comj  etency.  He 
is  a  director  of  the  Union  Bank  of  Medina,  and  was  one  of 
the  original  directors  of  the  projected  Niagara  River  and 
New  York  Air  Line  Eailroad,  organized  during  the  present, 
year.  He  was  a  Democrat  up  to  the  organization  of  the 
American  party;  joined  the  Republican  party  on  the  Kansas 
question,  and  has  acted  with  that  party  since ;  was  Super- 
visor in  1851  and  1852,  and  again  in  1871  and  1872,  and  is 
Chairman  of  the  present  Board;  was  chosen  Member  of 
Assembly  by  the  American  party  at  a  special  election,  held 
December  26,  1854,  in  place  of  ALEXIS  WAKD,  deceased,  over 
BORDEX  H.  MILLS,  Whig  and  Democrat,  by  over  1,000 
majority;  was  Presidential  Elector  in  1861,  casting  his  vote 
in  the  electoral  college  for  LINCOLN  and  HAMLIX,  and  was 
chosen  to  the  Assembly  at  the  late  general  election,  by  1,385 
majority,  over  Dr.  THOMAS  GUSHING,  Liberal,  nominated  in 
place  of  E.  KIRKE  HART,  Liberal,  who  declined. 

On  the  6th  of  August,  1844,  Mr.  WHALEX  was  married  to 
Miss  CATHARINE  GROFF,  who  has  contributed  largely  to  his 
life  success.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  is  trustee,  treasurer  and  district  steward, 
and  was  lay  delegate  to  the  last  annual  conference  of  the 
Genesee  district. 

His  father  was  American  born,  of  Irish  descent,  and  a 
farmer  in  comfortable  circumstances;  his  mother  is  of 
German  descent,  American  born,  and  both  are  deceased. 


NICHOLAS  A.  WHITK.  331 


NICHOLAS  A.  WHITE. 


The  First  district  of  Oneida  county,  embracing  the  larger 
portion  of  the  city  of  Utica,  is  represented  in  the  Assembly 
this  year  by  NICHOLAS  A.  WHITE,  one  of  the  most  respected 
business  men  of  that  city.  Mr.  WHITE  was  born  in  Thet- 
ford,  Vermont,  February  26,  1819,  and  the  son  of  NOAH 
WHITE,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who  died  about  six 
years  ago  in  Utica,  where  he  had  resided  about  forty  years. 
Young  WHITE  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
early  entered  business  life,  for  which  he  was  well  adapted.  He 
is  known  throughout  Central  New  York  in  connection  with 
the  old  established  linn  of  N.  A.  WHITE  cSt  Sox,  manufac- 
turers of  stone-ware  and  fire-brick. 

Though  Mr.  WHITE  has  always  felt  a  warm  interest  in  politi- 
cal movements,  having  since  early  youth  acted  either  with  the 
Whig  or  the  Republican  organization,  he  has  never  troubled 
himself  much  with  the  details  of  party  management,  and  is, 
therefore,  not  a  politician  in  the  popular  sense  of  the  term. 
His  influence  in  the  business  circles  of  Utica  is,  however, 
very  large,  and  it  is  invariably  exercised  in  behalf  of  Republi- 
can principles  and  candidates.  During  several  terms  he  has 
been  a  member  of  the  board  of  Supervisors  of  Oneida  county, 
and  has  also  served  in  the  Utica  board  of  Aldermen,  of  which 
he  is  now  a  member.  In  these  positions  his  business  capacity 
and  sterling  honesty  have  been  of  great  value  In  the  late 
general  election  he  was  pitted  again  LEWIS  II.  BABCOCK,  a 
very  popular  candidate  of  the  Democrats  and  Liberal  Repub- 
licans, and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  13,").,  the  Republican 
majority  of  the  previous  year  being  something  over  500. 

Mr.  WHITE  is  one  of  the  quiet  members,  having  little 
talent  for  speech-making.  But  he  is  capable  and  efficient, 
and  is  making  an  honorable  record.  He  has  been  married 
since  the  year  1840. 


332  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


AMHERST  WIGHT,  JR. 


No  portion  of  the  State  is  more  ably  represented  in  the 
Assembly  than  Westchester  county.  Her  three  members  are 
each  of  them  of  marked  character  and  superior  ability. 
It  would  be  invidious  to  draw  a  comparison  between  them, 
but  we  cannot  certainly  transgress  the  bounds  of  propriety 
in  observing  that,  if  such  comparison  were  made,  Mr.  WIGHT 
\vould  not  suffer  thereby.  Able,  dignified  and  candid  in 
debate,  and  pleasant  and  courteous  in  his  more  familiar  inter- 
course with  fellow  members,  he  is  respected  by  both  friends 
and  opponents,  while  his  decided  ability  inspires  genuine 
admiration.  JEe  is  not,  perhaps,  a  brilliant  orator,  but  his 
speeches  are  invariably  full  of  sound  sense,  expressed  in  well- 
chosen  language.  He  shows  upon  the  floor  much  less  of  the 
politician  than  of  the  lawryer,  -while  he  brings  to  the  discus- 
sion of  the  important  legal  topics  of  the  present  session 
extensive  learning  fortified  by  large  experience  and  exhaust- 
ive reading. 

Mr.  WIGHT  was  born  in  Xew  York  city,  August  15.  1828, 
and  lias  therefore  passed  his  forty-fourth  year.  He  is  the  son 
of  AMIIEUST  WIGHT,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Bellingham,  Mass.,  who 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  having  been  a 
prominent  member  of  the  bar  of  this  State  for  more  than 
half  a  century.  Mr.  WIGHT'S  mother  was  JOHANNA  G. 
SANDERSON  previous  to  her  marriage,  and  it  is  worthy  of 
note  that  she  was  born  in  the  historic  HASBKOUCK  house  at 
Newburgh,  which  was  occupied  in  revolutionary  times  by 
General  WASHINGTON-  as  his  headquarters.  Mr.  WIGHT'S 
education  is  mainly  self-acquired.  Previous  to  his  thirteenth 
year  he  attended  a  private  school  in  Xew  York  city,  where, 
of  course,  his  studies  were  almost  entirely  rudimentary. 
When  he  had  reached  that  age,  he  left  school  and  applied 
himself  diligently  to  study,  being  especially  enamored  of  the 


AMHERST  WIGHT,  JR.  333 

classics,  with  which  he  became  quite  familiar.  Finally  he 
began  the  study  of  law,  which  he  prosecuted  until  he  reached 
his  majority.  He  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  practiced  in  the  courts  of  New  York  city 
and  Westchester,  devoting  his  talents  principally  to  that 
branch  of  the  profession  relating  to  real  estate.  He  resided 
in  the  metropolis  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Portchester, 
where,  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  period  spent  in  New 
York,  he  has  resided  up  to  the  present  date. 

Mr.  WIGHT'S  political  creed  is  unmistakably  Republican. 
He  has  belonged  to  the  party  since  its  first  organization,  at 
which  time  he  aided  in  forming  the  first  Republican  com- 
mittee in  New  York  city,  being  then  a  resident  of  the  Ninth 
ward  where  the  committee  was  organized.  Though  not, 
properly  speaking,  a  politician,  he  has  always  felt  deep 
interest  in  the  fortunes  of  the  Republican  party,  aud,  when 
occasion  required,  has  not  only  assumed  his  share  of  active 
campaign  work,  but  has  often  stepped  into  the  breach,  and 
acted  us  the  party  standard  bearer  in  exciting  local  contests. 
His  town  is  Democratic  by  about  150  majority,  but  we  find 
him,  in  1871,  triumphantly  chosen  to  a  seat  in  the  Board  of 
Supervisors,  to  which  he  was  also  chosen  in  the  following 
year.  Last  fall  he  received  a  spontaneous  nomination  for  the 
Assembly  from  the  Second  district  of  his  county,  where 
the  Democratic  majority  is  usually  about  800.  The  opposing 
candidate,  ELIAS  DUSEXBURY,  possessed  undoubted  strength, 
but  Mr.  WIGHT  was  successful  by  a  small  majority,  running 
several  hundred  votes  ahead  of  the  Presidential  ticket. 

He  was  married  in  185G;  became  a  widower  in  1864,  and 
married  again  in  18G7.  Although  formerly  connected  with 
Dr.  OSGOOD'S  Unitarian  church  in  New  York  city,  he  has 
during  late  years  belonged  to  the  Episcopal  denomination. 
An  amiable,  unpretending  gentleman  in  every  respect,  Mr. 
WIGHT  has  gained  much  popularity  during  the  present 
session,  and  is  doing  excellent  service  for  the  people  of  West- 
Chester  county.  He  is  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Priv- 


334  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

ileges  and  Elections,  a  member  of  the  Insurance  Committee, 
and  serves  also  on  the  special  Erie  Committee. 


PETER  WOODS. 


Mr.  WOODS  was  the  opponent,  in  the  late  canvass,  of  ex- 
Assemblyman  JAMES  IRVING,  the  candidate  of  Tammany,  in 
the  16th  metropolitan  district,  defeating  him  by  a  majority 
of  865.  He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Monahan,  Ireland, 
December  15,  1832,  and  is  therefore  forty-one  years  of  age. 
At  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  came  to  this  country,  and  located 
in  New  York  city,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  in  Ireland  and  in  New 
York,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  painter.  He  has  been  in 
business  for  about  fifteen  years,  and  is  now  quite  comfortably 
off.  Except  his  present  service  in  the  Assembly,  he  has  never 
held  any  public  position.  He  served  his  time  in  the  New 
York  Volunteer  Fire  Department,  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  in  local  politics  for  a  number  of  years,  belonging  to 
what  is  known  as  the  Young  Democracy,  and  for  nine  years 
past  has  persistently  fought  the  Tammany  ring. 

Mr.  WOODS  is  a  man  of  considerable  business  energy  and 
sagacity,  and  represents  his  district  very  efficiently.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  lioman  Catholic  Church,  and  has  been  twice 
married,  iirst  to  Ais'x  BUU.NKU,  in  1858,  and  the  second  time 
to  ELIZABETH  LECOMPT,  in  1809,  his  first  wife  dying  in 
1862. 


JACOB  WORTH.  335 


JACOB  WORTH. 


Mr.  WORTH  is  a  resident  of  the  Sixteenth  ward  of 
Brooklyn,  and  represents  the  Sixth  district  of  Kings  county 
in  the  Assembly.  His  parents  emigrated  from  South  Ger- 
many in  the  year  1837,  locating  in  New  York  city;  five 
years  later  they  removed  to  Brooklyn,  and  there  the  family 
have  since  resided.  Mr.  AYoRTii  was  born  in  New  York  soon 
after  his  parents  arrived  in  that  city,  and  therefore  he  is  now 
about  thirty-five  years  of  age.  His  father  died  when  he  was 
but  seven  years  of  age,  and  from  that  time  he  was  practically 
obliged  to  depend  upon  his  own  efforts  to  earn  a  living,  as  well 
as  to  provide  for  his  widowed  mother.  He  thus  had  very  little 
opportunity  to  obtain  an  education.  In  point  of  fact,  the 
first  time  he  ever  saw  the  inside  of  a  school-house  was  in 
1863,  when  he  was  first  a  candidate  for  legislative  honors. 
He  is  therefore  self-made,  as  the  phrase  goes,  and  self-edu- 
cated. 

His  life  has  been  quite  eventful.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
he  went  to  sea,  and,  during  an  absence  of  three  years,  made 
the  circuit  of  the  globe.  Soon  after  his  return  lie  entered 
the  political  arena,  and  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen  was 
elected  to  represent  his  ward  in  the  Democratic  General 
Committee.  When  the  war  broke  out  in  1801,  he  was 
enthusiastic  in  championing  the  Union  cause,  and  since  that 
time  he  has  been  a  firm  anil  consistent  Republican,  devoting 
much  time  and  effort  in  spreading  a  knowledge  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  his  party  among  his  fellow-countrymen.  It  is 
probably  due  to  him  more  than  to  any  other  man  that,  in 
spite  of  adverse  influences  arising  from  excise  laws  and  other 
issues,  the  Germans  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Brooklyn, 
comprising  a  large  portion  of  the  population  of  that  section, 
have  been  kept  true  to  Republicanism. 

In  September,  18G2,  Mr.  WORTH  was  commissioned  a  First 


336  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Lieutenant  in  Col.  CONK'S  regiment,  the  139th  New  York, 
and  went  with  his  regiment  to  the  front.  Shortly  after  he 
was  promoted  to  a  Captaincy,  and  was  given  a  command  in 
the  84 th  New  York  regiment.  He  participated  with  credit 
in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  the  regiment,  nntil  the 
latter  part  of  1863,  when  he  resigned  because  of  ill-health. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was  placed  in  the  field  as 
the  Republican  candidate  for  Assembly  in  the  district  com- 
prising the  ?th,  15th,  16th  and  19th  wards  of  Brooklyn,  and 
succeeded  in  defeating  FRANK  SWIFT,  the  Democratic  can- 
didate, by  over  one  thousand  majority.  In  1864  he  was 
re-elected  by  about  700  majority  over  JOHN  HANSON,  the 
district  giving  the  Democratic  State  ticket  at  the  same  time 
500  majority.  In  1865  he  was  once  more  chosen  to  the 
Assembly,  receiving  about  1,200  majority,  Judge  EAMES,  a 
very  popular  man  on  the  Democratic  side,  being  his  oppo- 
nent. In  1866  he  was  a  candidate  for  Street  Commissioner 
against  EGBERT  FURY,  and  was  defeated  by  1,400  votes,  in  a 
poll  of  more  than  48,000,  running  8,800  votes  ahead  of  the 
Republican  State  ticket.  In  the  fall  of  1867  he  was  elected 
to  the  Assembly  from  the  district  composed  of  the  16th  and 
19th  wards  of  Brooklyn,  by  30  majority,  the  Democratic 
State  Ticket  receiving  over  1,100  majority.  In  1868  he  rep- 
resented the  2d  Congressional  district  of  this  State  in  the 
Electoral  College  which  gave  Gen.  GRANT  the  thirty-four 
votes  of  the  Empire  State.  He  ran  again  for  Assembly  in 
1869,  but  was  defeated  by  BERNARD  HAVER,  a  Democrat,  by 
58  votes,  owing  to  the  fact  that  an  Independent  Republican 
was  in  the  field,  and  polled  some  458  votes.  He  is  now  com- 
pleting his  fifth  term  in  the  State  Legislature,  to  which  he 
was  elected  by  a  majority  of  555  over  AUGUST  MERRINGER. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  overcome  his  popularity  in  the 
16th  ward.  He  has  suffered  much  detraction  at  the  hands 
of  political  opponents,  but  he  is  ever  ready  to  meet  his 
assailants  face  to  face  on  any  issue,  and  his  manly  course  of 
action  invariably  compels  respect  and  admiration.  His 


LUCIEN  T.  YEOMAXS.  33? 

energy  and  perseverance  are  distinguishing  traits  in  his 
character,  and  the  Committee  of  One  Hundred  showed 
obvious  appreciation  of  his  merit  by  requesting  him  to 
champion  their  Reform  Charter  through  the  Assembly.  It 
is  conceded  that  lie  worthily  performed  the  task  allotted  to 
him,  not  hesitating  to  measure  lances  with  the  ablest  debaters 
in  the  House.  Mr.  WORTH  has  been  elected  to  represent  the 
16th  ward  in  the  Republican  General  Committee  every  year 
for  the  past  twelve  years,  and  during  the  past  ten  years  has 
been  the  elected  representative  of  his  Assembly  district  to 
all  the  State  Conventions  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a 
gentleman  of  good  presence  and  commanding  figure,  stand- 
ing six  feet  in  height.  If  he  lives  to  the  usual  age  allotted  to 
man,  he  bids  fair  to  become  as  popular  in  the  State  as  he  is 
now  in  Brooklyn.  He  was  married  in  1861,  and  has  two 
interesting  children. 


LUCIEN  T.  YEOMANS. 


One  of  the  most  active  young  Republicans  of  the  House 
is  the  Hon.  LUOIEX  T.  YEOMAXS,  of  Wayne,  who  is  now 
serving  his  second  term.  Mr.  YEOMAXS  was  born  in  Wai- 
worth,  Wayne  county,  December  1st,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of 
THEROX  G.  YEOMAXS,  who  was  a  member  of  Assembly  in 
1851,  ?52.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  is  still  a  resident  of 
that  pleasant  village,  where  he  owns  and  supervises  a  well- 
managed  and  productive  fruit  farm.  He  is,  in  fact,  well 
known  throughout  the  State  as  a  nurseryman  and  fruit 
grower.  Those  who  manage  State  and  county  fairs  are 
aware  that  he  has  a  habit  of  manifesting  a  lively  interest  in 
whatever  tends  to  the  advancement  of  his  favorite  pursuit, 
and  there  are  probably  very  few  men  who  have,  at  his  age, 
succeeded  in  accomplishing  as  much  for  the  horticultural 
interests  of  the  commonwealth.  Mr.  YEOMAXS  is  thoroughly 
22 


338  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

qualified  for  a  business  career,  haring  mastered  a  full  course 
of  study  at  Walworth  Academy,  and  at  Eastman's  Commer- 
cial College  in  Poughkeepsie.  Since  he  cast  his  first  vote  he 
has  been  an  active  and  thorough-going  Republican,  and  being 
also  a  man  of  clear  convictions  and  enlarged  views,  he  has 
attained  a  prominent  position  in  the  local  councils  of  his  party, 
in  which  his  shrewdness  and  energy  are  felt  and  acknowl- 
edged. He  was  never  a  seeker  after  political  preferment,  and 
never  held  office  in  the  party  until  last  year,  when  he  served 
his  constituents  honorably  in  the  Assembly.  His  course, 
indeed,  gave  such  complete  satisfaction  to  those  he  repre- 
sented, that  he  was  returned  to  the  present  House  by  a  largely- 
increased  majority  over  two  competitors,  ORLANDO  W. 
POWERS,  a  "  Liberal "  Republican,  and  AMASA  HALL,  an 
'•'  Independent  "  Republican.  His  majority  at  the  last  elec- 
tion was  1,635  against  1,200  in  the  fall  of  1871.  In  the 
Assembly  of  1852  he  was  appropriately  given  the  Chairman- 
ship of  the  Committee  on  Agriculture.  As  a  member  of  the 
Committees  on  Claims  and  Expenditures  of  the  Executive 
Department,  and  also  of  the  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole, 
he  labored  industriously  and  with  credit  throughout,  the  pro- 
longed session  of  last  year.  In  the  present  session  he  is 
Chairman  of  Joint  Library,  and  member  of  Commerce  and 
Navigation,  and  Sub-committee  of  the  Whole. 

Mr.  Y.  is  not  conspicuous  as  a  debater,  though  he  occasion- 
ally takes  the  floor ;  but  he  possesses  qualities  which  are  far 
more  essential  to  good  legislation,  namely,  unwearied  indus- 
try, keen  discrimination,  sound  sense,  and  sterling  integrity. 
Though  yet  a  young  man,  he  has  already  made  his  mark,  and 
has  evidently  entered  upon  an  honorable  career. 


RUSSELL  A.  YOUNG.  339 


RUSSELL  A.  YOUNG. 


Mr.  YOUNG  is  a  resident  of  Norwich,  Chenango  county, 
where  he  owns  a  valuable  farm,  and  is  accounted  one  of  the 
most  successful  agriculturists  in  that  section.  His  parents, 
MARTIN  and  MARY  YOUNG,  were  natives  of  Otsego  county, 
and  he  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  in  that  county,  on  the 
30th  of  October,  1835.  His  father  and  mother  are,  we 
believe,  both  living.  Removing  to  Cheiiango  county  at  an 
early  age,  Mr.  YOUNG  received  an  education  in  the  ordinary 
English  branches  at  New  Berlin  Academy,  and  subsequently 
served  an  apprenticeship  at  carriage-making.  After  working 
about  twelve  years  at  that  business,  he  purchased  a  farm, 
and,  since  1862,  his  time  has  mainly  been  occupied  in  its 
cultivation.  His  probity  of  character  and  sterling  worth 
have  secured  him  the  esteem  and  regard  of  all  the  citizens 
of  Norwich,  without  regard  to  party.  In  1866,  he  was 
elected  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  has  held  the  office 
continuously  up  to  the  present  time.  He  has  also  been 
Secretary  of  the  County  Agricultural  Society  since  the  year 
1869.  Mr.  YOUNG  cast  his  first  vote  for  JOHN  C.  FREMONT. 
and  in  all  the  elections  since  then  he  has  invariably  voted 
the  Republican  ticket.  He  was  chosen  to  the  Assembly  in 
the  canvass  of  last  fall  by  a  majority  of  813,  his  opponent 
being  DAVID  H.  KNAPP.  Though  he  is  not  conspicuous  in 
the  debates  of  the  House,  he  is  an  able  and  efficient  mem- 
ber, and  effectively  represents  the  interests  of  his  constitu- 
ents, with  due  regard  to  the  welfare  of  the  State  at  large. 
In  religion  he  is  an  Episcopalian,  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
members  of  that  denomination  in  Norwich.  He  was  mar- 
ried, on  the  6th  of  September,  1859.  to  Miss  FANNIE  K. 
BROWN. 


340  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

JOHN  O'DONNELL, 

CLEKK   OF  THE   ASSEMBLY. 

Though  he  assumed  the  position  without  previous  experi- 
ence in  the  desk,  the  duties  of  Clerk  of  the  Assembly 
have  very  rarely  been  better  performed  than  by  ex-Senator 
O'DoxxELL.  The  position  is  one  of  great  labor  and  respon- 
sibility, and  requires  a  peculiar  order  of  talent  in  the  incum- 
bent ;  but  he  has  shown  that  he  possesses  in  large  degree  the 
special  qualifications  required,  being,  as  all  will  admit  who 
have  watched  him  during  the  session,  industrious,  prompt, 
methodical,  a  good  reader,  a  clear-headed  man  of  business, 
and  a  pleasant,  courteous  gentleman.  For  the  admirable 
and  orderly  manner  in  which  the  legislative  business  has 
been  transacted,  great  credit  is  primarily  due  to  Speaker 
CORXELL,  but  his  efforts  would  be  useless  to  a  great  extent 
were  they  not  aided  and  seconded,  as  they  certainly  have 
been,  by  the  tact  and  intelligence  of  the  Clerk.  Mr.O'Dox- 
XELL'S  ability  is  universally  recognized,  and  he  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  all  the  members  of  the  House. 

JOHN*  O'DoxxELL  is  a  native  of  Fort  Ann,  Washington 
county,  where  he  was  born  in  1857.  His  father  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  his  mother  in  America.  In  early  life  lie  removed 
to  Lyme,  Jefferson  county,  and  in  18-iO  he  settled  in  Lowville, 
Lewis  county,  where  he  now  resides.  In  that  place  he  com- 
menced trade  as  a  general  merchant,  and  by  earnest  and 
careful  attention  to  business  gradually  extended  his  means 
and  acquired  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his  fellow  citizens. 
He  subsequently  purchased  largely  of  real  estate,  in  central 
and  eligible  business  localities,  and  erected  commodious 
blocks  of  buildings,  extending  along  both  the  main  streets 
of  Lowville,  which  have  added  greatly  to  the  commercial 
facilities  of  the  place.  His  investments  proved  successful  to 
that  extent  that  lie,  several  years  ago,  withdrew  from  trade, 


JOHN  O'DoNNELL.  341 


the  leisure  thus  secured  enabling  him  to  render  valuable 
service  to  the  people  of  the  State  and  the  Republican  party, 
us  Avell  as  to  the  temperance  cause,  with,  which  he  has  long 
been  closely  identified. 

He  has  had  a  long  and  honorable  political  career.  In  1864 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Committee,  and 
was  also  a  Delegate  to  the  Baltimore  Convention  which 
renominated  President  LIXCOLN.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
a  Member  of  Assembly  from  Lewis  county,  serving  in  that 
body  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Internal  Affairs 
of  Towns  and  Counties,  and  bestowing  diligent  attention 
upon  the  interests  of  his  constituents  and  such  measures 
as  were  for  the  public  welfare.  During  the  session  he 
secured  the  passage  of  laws  appropriating  about  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars  for  improvements  in  Lewis  county,  and  was 
the  author  of  an  important  bill  to  protect  the  butter  and 
cheese  interests  of  the  State.  In  1865  he  was  elected  Senator 
for  the  eighteenth  district  (Lewis  and  Jefferson),  in  place 
of  Hon.  JAMES  A.  BELL,  defeating,  by  a  large  majority, 
AXDREW  CORNWALL,  his  Democratic  opponent.  During 
his  first  senatorial  term  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Internal 
Affairs  Committee,  and  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Insur- 
ance and  Public  Expenditures.  In  his  first  session  he  reported 
and  advocated  the  New  York  Excise  Bill,  and  was  the  author 
of  acts  to  protect  political  primaries,  caucuses  and  conven- 
tions, and  to  divide  a  safety  fund  of  880,000  in  the  Bank 
Department  among  the  bill-holders  of  Yates  and  Lewis 
counties  and  reciprocity  banks. 

In  1867  he  distinguished  himself  by  introducing  a  measure, 
noted  for  its  originality  and  success,  and  known  as  the 
"  O'Donnell  Railroad  Bill.'"'  It  provided,  in  place  of  State 
aid  to  individual  roads,  a  general  plan  by  which  the  State 
should  aid  any  steam  railroad  in  the  State,  outside  of  New 
York  city  and  county,  that  should  build  and  complete  in 
good  running  order,  where  a  parallel  road  was  not  already 
built  or  in  process  of  building,  within  an  average  distance  of 


342  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

ten  miles  thereof,  to  the  amount  of  $5,000  per  mile  for 
every  twenty  miles  of  road.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  a 
report,  even  for  consideration,  could  be  obtained  from  the 
Senate  Eailroad  Committee  in  reference  to  the  bill.  At  its 
first  appearance  in  Committee  of  the  Whole  but  two  Sena- 
tors were  in  favor  of  it,  but  a  long  discussion  of  its  merits 
changed  the  current  of  opinion,  and  it  finally  passed  by  a 
large  vote.  Afterward  it  passed  the  Assembly,  but  it  was 
vetoed  by  Governor  FEXTOX.  He  also  secured  the  passage 
in  the  Senate  of  bills  to  extend  the  New  York  excise  law  to 
the  State  at  large,  to  suppress  obscene  literature,  and  to  pro- 
hibit the  employment  of  railroad  employees  who  use  liquors 
as  a  beverage,  but  they  were  all  defeated  in  the  Assembly. 

In  1867  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Senate,  defeating  LEWIS 
H.  Buowxby  1,647  majority.  In  the  ensuing  session,  as  a 
reward  for  his  fidelity  to  the  interests  of  the  State,  and  for 
his  unbending  integrity  and  honesty,  he  was  made  Chairman 
of  the  Finance  Committee,  a  position  which  constituted  him 
the  premier  of  the  Senate.  He  was  besides  a  member  of  the 
Committees  on  Printing,  Privileges  and  Elections,  and  Pub- 
lic Health. 

During  this  session  he  devoted  himself  to  the  revision  of 
the  assessment  laws  of  the  State,  and  introduced  a  bill  which 
provided  for  the  taxing  and  assessing  of  corporations  at  the 
Comptroller's  office  in  Albany.  In  pursuance  of  the  order 
of  the  Senate  in  connection  with  his  bill,  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  the  State,  all  the  corporations  made  sworn 
statements  of  the  amount  of  their  capital,  surplus  and  net 
earnings  for  the  preceding  five  years.  These  returns  weiv 
embodied  in  a  report  from  the  Comptroller,  and,  in  an  clabo- 
orate  speech  upon  his  bill,  Senator  O'Doxs'ELL  claimed  that 
there  was  $870,989,672.39  of  corporate  property  alone  liable 
to  taxation,  and  that  of  this  vast  amount  only  8235.855,172 
was  assessed  for  taxation.  In  1869.  without  his  knowledge, 
he  was  selected  as  Supervisor  of  Internal  Revenue  for  the 
Northern  District  of  New  York,  which  office  he  held  until 


JOHN  CfDoNNELL.  343 


August,  when,  by  law  of  Congress,  the  two  districts  in  the 
State  were  consolidated  into  one.  In  the  late  Presidential 
canvass  Senator  O'DoNNELL  took  the  stump  for  General 
GRANT,  and  held  upward  of  fifty  meetings  in  behalf  of  the 
cause.  After  the  close  of  the  canvass,  at  the  organization  of 
the  Assembly,  and  in  obedience  to  the  unanimous  wish  of 
the  party  in  the  State,  who  desired  to  carry  the  reforms 
promised  into  the  Clerk's  desk,  he  was  chosen  Clerk  of  the 
Assembly,  without  solicitation  on  his  part. 

Mr.  O'DoxxELL  has  been  the  recognized  champion  of  the 
temperance  interest  in  the  Legislature  and  elsewhere,  for  a 
number  of  years  past,  and  he  has  given  his  best  efforts  in 
behalf  of  that  cause.  He  is,  in  fact,  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent temperance  men  in  the  entire  State,  and  frequently 
takes  occasion  to  deliver  lectures  and  addresses  on  the  sub- 
ject. So  far  as  honorably  lay  in  his  power,  he  has  been  active 
in  endeavoring  to  secure  the  passage  of  the  several  temper- 
ance bills  before  the  present  Legislature.  As  a  public  speaker 
he  is  fluent  and  argumentative,  seldom  failing  to  fix  the 
attention  of  an  audience,  and  always  leaving  the  impression 
that  he  is  correct  and  conscientious  in  his  views.  He  is 
known  as  a  man  of  great  energy  and  perseverance,  and  he 
seldom  undertakes  an  enterprise  without  carrying  it  through. 
Genial  in  disposition,  gentlemanly  and  courteous  in  manners, 
and  a  man  of  fine  intellectual  attainments,  JOHX  O'DoxxELL 
is  in  every  way  an  ornament  to  the  Clerk's  desk,  and  an 
honor  to  the  State  he  serves. 


34:4  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

JOHN  SMART,  M.  A., 

OF   SMARTVILLE. 

[The  following  autobiographical  sketch  was  found  among 
the  papers  in  the  hands  of  the  editors  of  this  work.  As  a 
bit  of  pleasantry,  it  is  deemed  worthy  of  publication.  It 
was  written  by  a  well-known  member  of  the  present  Assem- 
bly, who  is  serving  his  second  term :] 

Editors  of  Life  Sketches :  —  Your  circular  soliciting  bio- 
graphical data  of  members  of  Assembly  and  other  distin- 
guished persons  was  duly  received.  I  shall  be  very  happy  to 
assist  you  as  far  as  lies  in  my  power. 

At  present  I  will  only  briefly  allude  to  some  of  the  most 
important  events  of  my  past  life  and  ancestral  connections. 

My  ancestors  were  of  the  Simon  pure  thoroughbred  Puri- 
tan stock,  and  came  to  this  country  on  the  Plymouth  Rock, 
about  twenty-live  years  before  the  Sunflower  landed  with 
the  BEECIIER  family  —  consequently  they  enjoyed  all  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  the  early  settlers.  My  great- 
grandfather, II  AX  ABLE  SMART,  was  a  deacon  in  the  church 
and  fought  in  the  Indian  Avars  under  POCAHONTAS  and 
Captain  JOHX  SMITH.  He  finally  settled  in  an  unsettled 
part  of  the  State,  and  started  the  village  of  Smartville.  My 
grandfather  was  a  shoemaker.  I  don't  know  what  my  grand- 
mother was,  but  probably  she  Avas  of  the  same  persuasion. 
They  pegged  out  before  my  remembrance,  and  left  a  right 
smart  family  of  children,  eleven  boys  and  nine  girls,  some 
of  whom  emigrated  to  Pike  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  have 
never  been  heard  from  since.  Probably  they  joined  the 
Liberals  or  Bourbon  Democracy  and  perished  in  the  late- 
Presidential  campaign.  My  father,  JOHN  HANCOCK  SMART, 
was  a  distinguished  military  officer,  and  served  eighteen  years 
us  captain  in  the  Connecticut  militia.  My  mother  weighed 
240  pounds.  They  fought  in  the  battle  of  "Tippecanoe  and 


JOHN  SMART,  M.  A.  345 

Tyler  too ;"  also,  in  the  Young  Hickory  and  White  Ash  cam- 
paign. 

As  to  my  own  nativity,  I  have  not  a  very  distinct  recollec- 
tion, but  think  it  occurred  about  forty  years  ago.  At  a 
very  early  age  I  set  out  to  paddle  my  own  canoe,  and  the 
first  notable  event  that  I  distinctly  recollect  was  being 
placed  in  charge  of  the  motive  power  of  a  canal  boat,  on 
the  Erie  canal.  Since  then  many  memorable  events  have 
occurred  which  I  should  prefer  to  forget,  notwithstand- 
ing the  loss  it  would  be  to  the  world  not  to  have  them 
recorded.  Probably  if  I  had  remained  on  the  canal  instead 
of  paddling  my  canoe  into  the  dirty  waters  of  politics,  I 
might  to-day  write  the  biography  of  a  much  better  man.  My 
early  education  was  chiefly  obtained  from  the  common  schools 
(very  common  ones  they  were),  except  about  six  months 
which  I  spent  with  a  circus.  I  don't  recollect  whether  1 
graduated  from  either  institution. 

The  public  positions  which  I  have  held  in  civil  life  have 
been  somewhat  varied  and  attended  with  responsibility  and 
profit,  if  not  with  honor.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  I  was 
appointed  Superintendent  of  a  light-house  on  the  Jersey 
Flats.  This  was  considered  a  very  dangerous  service,  as  the 
mosquitoes  had  taken  off  those  previously  appointed  to  that 
office ;  but  by  the  exercise  of  a  little  strategy,  instead  of 
being  taken  off  by  the  varmints,  I  managed  to  take  them  in 
and  make  it  pay.  to  boot.  By  leaving  the  lamp  open  on  a 
warm  night,  they  would  fly  in  and  get  thoroughly  singed, 
the  remains  could  then  be  gathered  up  and  sold  very  readily 
in  Catharine  Market  for  baked  shrimps  —  an  excellent  article 
of  food  for  a  light  diet.  I  next  received  an  appointment  in 
the  Internal  Revenue  Department  as  Whisky  Inspector,  after 
a  competitive  examination  with  twenty-five  other  candidates, 
my  success  being  due  to  the  possession  of  the  greatest  capacity 
to  sample  the  goods.  I  was  compelled  to  resign  after  six 
months'  service  in  the  Jersey  lightning  district,  my  constitu- 
tion not  being  strong  enough  to  endure  that  service. 


346  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

After  occupying  several  other  important  positions  in  civil 
life,  and  taking  a  very  active  part  in  primaries  and  political 
clubs,  having  been  President  of  the  Strikers'  Club  for  the 
last  ten  years,  and  in  connection  therewith,  having  been 
instrumental  in  electing  several  men  of  great  financial 
ability  to  the  Legislature  and  to  Congress,  I  was  myself  elected 
last  year  to  the  Assembly,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  the  session.  I  served  on  the  Committee  on  Fixed 
Bills,  and  also  on  the  Committee  on  Expenditures  of  the 
Lobby.  Owing  to  the  last  Legislature  being  so  strongly  in 
favor  of  reform,  and  the  many  reform  measures  introduced, 
the  labors  of  these  Committees  were  very  arduous  and 
exacting. 

As  a  mark  of  appreciation  for  my  past  services,  and  an 
indorsement  of  my  course  in  the  cause  of  reform,  my  con- 
stituents re-elected  me  to  the  Legislature  of  1873. 

Before  closing  this  hasty  sketch,  I  would  briefly  allude  to 
my  military  service  during  the  late  Avar.  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  difficulties,  I  enlisted  in  the  Sutlers' 
Department  with  the  Pennsylvania  Eeserves,  and  was  in  the 
front  or  rear  (don't  exactly  remember  which)  of  Gen. 
POPE'S  army,  at  the  second  Bull  Run  fight.  When  the  run 
commenced  I  outran  them  all,  and  was  the  first  man  in 
except  a  newspaper  correspondent,  who  stole  a  commissary 
mule,  and  rode  bare-back.  His  paper  always  got  the  news 
from  the  rear  in  advance  of  any  other.  Soon  thereafter, 
and,  as  a  reward  for  hard  service,  I  received  an  appointment 
as  captain  in  the  Home  Guard,  and  was  detailed  for  recruit- 
ing service ;  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  this  service  I  did 
not  shrink  from,  but,  owing  to  a  trifling  misunderstanding 
with  the  Department  on  account  of  some  irregularity  in  the 
transactions  of  the  bounty-broker-jumpers,  I  tendered  my 
resignation,  and  did  not  again  engage  in  any  military  ser- 
vice until  last  winter,  when  I  joined  the  '•'  Black  Horse  Cav- 
alry" at  Albany,  and  performed  active  service  in  that  com- 
mand until  its  colonel  resigned,  when  I  accepted  a  commis- 


JOHX  SMART,  M.  A.  34? 

sion  in  tlie  bone  brigade,  and  became  a  leader  of  some  note 
in  the  skirmishes  and  battles  fought  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  campaign.  It  is  my  intention,  after  the  close  of  the 
present  session,  when  I  will  have  served  through  two  Reform 
Legislatures,  to  deliver  lectures  as  a  reformed  member, 
believing  they  can  be  made  as  entertaining  and  profitable  as 
the  ''Reformed  Drunkard"  or  "Reformed  Gambler"  lec- 
tures which  Avere  so  popular  some  years  ago. 
Yours  truly, 

JOHN  SMART, 

Member  from  Smartville. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SENATE.  349 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SENATE. 


NUMBER   OF   THEIR   RESPECTIVE    DISTRICTS,   WITH  THE  COUNTIES  AND 
WARDS  COMPOSING   THE   SAME. 


Dlst.  Counties  and  Wards.  Senators. 

1.  Counties  of  Suffolk,  Queens  and  Richmond TOWNSE.VD  D.  COCK. 

2.  First,  Second,  Third,    Fourth,  Fifth,  Seventh,  Eleventh, 

Thirteenth,  Fifteenth,  Nineteenth  and  Twentieth  wards 

of  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  In  the  county  of  Kings JOHN  C.  PERRY. 

3.  Sixth,   Eighth,   Xinth,  Tenth,  Twelfth,  Fourteenth,  Six- 

teenth, Seventeenth  and  Eighteenth  wards  of  the  city  of 
Brooklyn,  and  the  towns  of  Fhitbush,  Flatlands,  Grave- 
send,  New  Lots  and  New  Utrecht,  of  the  county  of 
Kings HENRY  C.  MURPHY. 

4.  First,  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Seventh,  Thir- 

teenth and  Fourteenth  wards  of  the  city  and  county  of 

New  York VACANT. 

5.  Eighth,  Ninth,  Fifteenth  and  Sixteenth  wards  of  the  city 

and  county  of  New  York ERASTUS  C.  BENEDICT. 

6.  Tenth,  Eleventh  and   Seventeenth  wards  of  the  city  and 

county  of  New  York AUGUSTUS  WEISMANN. 

7.  Eighteenth,  Twentieth  and  Twenty-first  wards  of  the  city 

and  county  of  New  York JAMES  O'BRIEN. 

8.  Twelfth,  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-second  wards  of  the  city 

and  county  of  New  York DANIEL  F.  TIEMANN. 

0.  Counties  of  Westchester,  Putnam  arid  Kockland WILLIAM  II.  KOBERTSO*. 

10.  Counties  of  Orange  and  Sullivan EDWARD  M.  MADDEN. 

11.  Counties  of  Dutchess  and  Columbia ABIAH  W.  PALMER. 

12.  Counties  o!"  Renssolaer  and  Washington ISAAC  V.  BAKER,  JR. 

13.  County  of  Albany CHARLES  II.  ADAMS. 

14.  Counties  of  Greene  and  Ulster WILLIAM  F.  SCORESBT. 

1,">.  Counties  of  Saratoga,  Montgomery,  Fulton,  Hamilton  and 

Schenectady WEBSTER  W  A  ONER. 

16.  Counties  of  Warren,  Essex  and  Clinton SAMUEL  AMKS. 

17.  Counties  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Franklin WELLS  S.  DICKINSON. 

15.  Counties  of  Jefferson  and  Lewis  NORRIS  WIXSLOW. 

19.  County  of  Onohla ....  SAMUEL  S.  LOWERY. 


350  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

Dist.  Counties  and  Wards.  Senators. 

20.  Counties  of  Herkimer  and  Otsego ARCHIBALD  C.  McGowAM. 

21.  Counties  of  Oswego  and  Madison WILLIAM  FOSTER. 

22.  Counties  of  Onondaga  and  Cortland DANIEL  P.  WOOD. 

23.  Counties  of  Chenango,  Delaware  and  Schoharie JAMES  H.  GRAHAM. 

24.  Counties  of  Broome.Tioga  and  Tompkins THOMAS  J.  CHATFIELD. 

25.  Counties  of  Cayuga  and  Wayne WILLIAM  B.  WOODIN. 

26.  Counties  of  Ontario,  Yates  and  Seneca WILLIAM  JOHNSON. 

27.  Counties  of  Chemung,  Schuylet  and  Steuben GABRIEL  T.  HARROWEK. 

28.  County  of  Monroe JARVIS  LORD. 

29.  Counties  of  Niagara,  Orleans  and  Genesee GEORGE  BOWEN. 

30.  Counties  of  Wyoming,  Livingston  and  Allegany JAMES  WOOD. 

31.  County  of  Erie LORAN  L.  LEWIS. 

32.  Counties  of  Chautauqua  and  Cattaraugus NORMAN  M.  ALLEN. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SENATE. 


351 


SENATORS 


AXPHABETICALI/Y  ARRANGED,    WITH   THE   COUNTIES    IN   WHICH    THEY 
RESIDE,   POST-OFFICE   ADDRESS  AND  POLITICS. 


Lieut.-Gov.  JOHN  C.  ROBINSON,  President  of  the  Senate. 


NAME  OF  SENATOR. 

County. 

Post-office  address. 

Politics. 

Ames,  Samuel  
Baker,  Isaac  V.,  Jr  
Benedict,  Erastus  C  

Essex  
Washington  
New  York  

Keeseville  
Comstock's  Landing.... 
New  York  

Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 

Chatflekl,  Thomas  J  
Dickinson,  Wells  S  
Foster  William  

Tioga  
Franklin  
Oswego,  

Owego  
Bangor  

Republican. 
Republican. 

Delaware  

Delhi  

narrower,  Gabriel  T  
Johnson,  William  

Steuberi  
Seneca  
Erie  

Lindleytown  
Seneca  Falls  
Buffalo  

Republican. 
Democrat. 

Monroe  

Oneida  

Madden,  Edward  M  
M             M    \rchib?Ul  C  

Orange  

Middletown  
Frankfort 

Republican. 

Murphv    Henrv  C  

Kings  

Brooklyn  

O'Brien,  James  
Palmer,  Abiah  W  
Perry,  John  C  
Robertson,  William  II  
Scorosbv  William  F   

New  York  
Dutchess  
Kings  
Westchester  .... 
Ulster  

New  York  
Amenla  
Brooklyn  
Katonah  
EHenville 

Democrat. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 

Palatine  Bridge 

WeUnumn,  Augustus  

Ne\v  York  

New  York  

Republican. 

Woodin,  William  I!  
Wood,  Daniel  P  

Cayuga  
Onondaga  

Auburn  
Syracuse  

Republican. 
Republican. 

Wood,  James. 


Livingston  .. 


Geneseo Republican. 


352 


LIFE  SKETCHES. 


MEMBERS   OF  THE   ASSEMBLY 

ALPHABETTCA:LLY  ARRANGED,  WITH  THE  DISTRICTS  AND  COUNTIES 
THEY  REPRESENT,  POST-OFFICE  ADDRESS  AND  POLITICS. 


Hon.  ALONZO  B.  CORNELL,  Speaker. 


^ 

Name. 

County. 

Post-office  address. 

Politics. 

5 

2 

Abbott,  Frank  

Orange  

Port  Jervls  ,  

Democrat. 

3 

Alberger,  Franklin  A  

Erie  

Buffalo  

Republican. 

1 

Babcock,  Isaac  H  

Niagara  

Lockport  

Republican. 

Badger,  John  P.. 


Franklin '  Burke    !  Republican. 


2  ;  Baltz,  George j  Erie Buffalo 

2  i  Batcheller,  Geo.  S |  Saratoga  Saratoga  Springs. 


Republican. 

Republican. 

Democrat. 

Biglin,  Bernard \  New  York •  New  York  city |  Republican. 

Blackie,  Charles '  New  York New  York  city |  Republican. 

Blessing,  Andrew ,  New  York New  York  city !  Democrat. 


Blumenthal,  Joseph  , 


New  York ,  New  York  city 

Brewer,  Francis  B !  Chautauqua Westfleld  

Brown,  Elijah  E |  Cayuga |  New  Hope 

Brown.  James  H !  Ulster !  Highland  

Bulkley,  Justus  L !  Oswego \  Sandy  Creek 


2  i  Burns,  Dennis '  New  York., 


New  York  citv. 


Burri.t,  Leonard Monroe Spenccrport 


Campbell,  Timothy  J New  York i  New  York  city 


New  York  city.. 


Democrat. 

Republican. 

Republican. 

Republican. 

Republican. 

Democrat. 

Republican. 

Democrat. 

Democrat. 

Independ't. 

Republican. 

Democrat. 


Clarke,  Geo.  W Now  York. 

Cleary.  Wm.  V Rensselaer '  Troy 

C'ocheu,  Frederick  Kings. Brooklyn,  E.  D Republican 

Coggeshall,  Henry  J Oneiila  j  AVaterville ':  Republican 

Cook,  Wm.  \V New  York New  York  city ;  Democrat. 

Cope,  John Otscgo  '  Oneonta '  Republican 

Cornell,  Chas.  G New  York I  New  York  city Democrat. 

Costello,  Patrick  II Oneida Carnden  Republican 

Couchman,  Peter Schoharie ;  Conesville Democrat 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY. 


353 


Name. 

County. 

Post-office  address. 

Politics. 

Crandall,  Wm.  \V  
Crary,  Charles  

Allegany  
New  York  

Andover  
New  York  city  

Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Independ't. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 

Ulster  

Wilbur  

Davidson,  John  N  
Deenng,  James  A  
Dennlston,  Augustus  
Dexter,  Seymour  
Donohuo,  James  F  
Kiting,  Daniel  D  

Wyoming  
New  York  
Orange  
Chemung  
Kings  
Ulster  

Portageville  
New  York  city  
Blooming  Grove  
Klmira  
Brooklyn  
Ellenville  

Fish,  Henrv  L  

Rochester  

Flinn,  Morris  B  
Ford,  Win.  L  

Yates  

Rushville  
Deposit  

Fort,  Daniel  G  

Oswego  

Fowler,  Thomas  M  
Furbeck,  John  I  
Gere,  Wm.  H.  II  
Gilbert,  Stephen  F  

Steuben  
Onondaga  
Onondaga  

Wayland  
Collamer  
Geddes  
Hornellsville  

Pittsford  

Griffin,  Matthew  

Hardy,  Leonard  F  
Hayes,  James  
Heacock,  Willard  J  
Healey,  James  
Hendee,  Horatio  S  
Herrlck,  Castle  W  
Herring,  William  
Hlggins,  Albion  P  
Hill,  Augustus  

Cayuga  
New  York  
Fulton&Ham.. 
New  York  
Jefferson  
Kensselaer  
Westchester  .... 
Kings  

Weedsport  
New  York  city  

New  York  city  
Carthage  
Nassau  
Fremont  
New  York  city  
Cairo  

Hillyer,  John  Blake  
Kille;  JohnD  
Holltoter,  K'lmund  \V  
Husted,  James  W  
Jacobs,  John  C  

Richmond  
Chautauqua  
Washington  
Westchester  .... 
Kings  
Oswego  
Washington  
lam  II.  Teffl  elec 

New  Springville  
Smith's  Mills  

Peekskill  
Brooklyn  
Fulton  
Middle  Granville  
ted  to  flll  vacancy. 

Johnson,  Willard  
Jones,  Eleazer*  
*  Deceased;  Wil 

23 


LIFE  SKETCHES. 


p 

Name. 

County. 

Post-office  address. 

Politics. 

Kennedy,  Archibald  
Knettles  Anson  \V  

Livingston  
Tompklns  

York  

Republican. 

1 

2 
2 
\ 

Landfield,  Jerome  B  
Lewis,  William,  Jr  
Lincoln,  Cyrillo  S  
Lynde,  Dolphus  S  

Tioga  
Delaware  
Ontario  
St.  Lawrence  ... 
Dutchess  

Newark  Valley  
Hamden  
Naples  
Hermon  
Fishkill-on-tlie-llud'n 

Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 

2 
1 

Manley,  John  
Marcy,  John  S  
McGuire,  Jeremiah  
McQueen,  Daniel  P  

Cattaraugus  .... 
Suffolk  
Schuyler  
Schenectady  .... 
St.  Lawrence  ... 

Little  Valley  
Hi  verhead  
Havana  
Schenectady  
De  Kalb  

Republican. 
Republican. 
Democrat. 
Republican. 

4 
4 

5 

Mosher,  George  D  
Nice,  John  

Albany  
Erie  
New  York  

West  Troy  
Grand  Island  
New  York  citv  

Democrat. 
Republican. 

2 
1 

Oakley,  James  M  

Queens  
Erie  

Jamaica  
Buffalo  

Democrat. 

20 
10 

Opdyke,  William  S  

New  York  
New  York  

New  York  city  

Republican. 

9 
1 

] 

? 

Pell,  Stephen  
Persons,  Elam  
Phillips,  George  W  
Philpot,  Edward  C  

New  York  
Jefferson  
Cortland  
Madison  

New  York  city  
Ellisburgh  
Homer  
Pratt's  Hollow  

Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 

Warren  

1 
1 
? 

Prince,  L.  Bradford  
Ray,  Benjamin  —  

Queens  
Columbia  

Flushing  
Hudson  

Republican. 
Democrat. 

3 

3 

Rice,  Eleazer  C  
Roche,  Domlnlck  H  
Rose  Parker  W 

Herkimer  
Kings  

Fairfleld.  
Brooklyn  
Parishvllle  

Republican. 
Democrat. 

^ 

i 

8 

? 

Smith,  Solon  B  

New  York  

New  York  city  

Republican. 

] 

8 

Stewart,  James  
Suydam,  Adrian  M  

Otsego  
'Kings  

South  Worcester  
Brooklyn,  E.  D  

Democrat. 
Republican. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY. 


355 


Q 

Name. 

County. 

Post-office  address. 

Politics. 

2 
2 

Swain,  George  M  
Sylvester,  Sidney  
Tefft  William  H     

Niagara  
Lewis  

Washington 

Somerset  
Martlnsburgh  
Whitehall  

Republican. 
Republican. 
Republican. 

Tobey,  Franklin  W  

Essex  

Port  Henry  

Republican. 

2 

Tompklns.  Milton  M  

Columbia  

Chatham  Village  

Democrat. 

Townsend,  Elbert  

Genesee  

Pavilion  Centre  

Republican. 

2 

VanCott,  David  C  

Kings  ,  

Brooklyn  

Republican. 

Van  Demark,  William  W  

Seneca  

Waterloo  

Democrat. 

1 

Van  Dusen,  Ambrose  L  

Ontario  

Gypsum  

Republican. 

Van  Dusen,  William  J  

Montgomery  

Canajoharie  

Republican. 

3 

Van  Valkenburgh,  John  W  

Albany  

Albany  

Democrat. 

1 

Vedder,  Commodore  P  

Cattaraugus  

Ellicottville  

Republican. 

Voorhls,  William  

Rockland  

Nyack  

Democrat. 

4 

Walker,  Daniel  

Onelda.  

North  Gage  

Republican. 

4 

Watt,  James  

Kings  

Brooklyn  

Republican. 

Weed  Smith  M 

Clinton  

Plattsburgh  

Democrat. 

1 

Wells,  Edward  B  

Wayne  

Clyde  

Republican. 

1 

West,  George  

Saratoga  

Ballston  Spa  

Republican. 

Whalen,  Elisha  S  

Orleans  

Medina  

Republican. 

1 

White,  Nicholas  A  

Onelda  

Utica  

Republican. 

2 

Wight,  Amherst,  Jr  

Westchester  .... 

Port  Chester  

Republican. 

16 

Woods,  Peter  

New  York  

New  York  city  

Democrat. 

6 

Worth,  Jacob  

Kings  

Brooklyn,  E.  D  

Republican. 

2 

Yeornans,  Lucien  T  

Wayne  

Walworth  

Republican. 

Young,  Russell  A  

Chenango  

Norwich  „  

Republican. 

THE  OLD  CAPITOL  AND  THE  NEW.  357 


THE  OLD  CAPITOL  AND  THE  NEW. 


We  present  on  another  page  the  engraved  counterpart  of 
the  new  Capitol.  A  few  words  concerning  that  magnificent 
coming  edifice  and  its  predecessor,  still  in  possession,  the  old 
Capitol,  will  not  be  out  of  place  in  this  volume. 

The  Capitol  building  in  which  the  laws  of  New  York  are 
now  made,  owed  its  origin  to  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Com- 
monalty of  the  City  of  Albany.  In  1803,  the  Legislature 
of  the  State,  then  holding  its  sessions  in  Albany's  Court- 
house —  a  plain,  substantial  four-story  building,  situated  on 
what  is  now  the  corner  of  Broadway  (then  Court  street)  and 
Hudson  street  —  was  respectfully  petitioned  by  said  Mayor, 
etc.  Their  petition  set  forth  that  the  Court-house  then  in 
use,  "as  well  from  local  situation  as  from  its  not  having  a 
sufficient  number  of  apartments  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  Legislature,  has  become  inconvenient  for  the  transaction 
of  public  business ;  that  the  continual  passage  of  carts  and 
wagons  at  particular  seasons  renders  it  difficult  if  not  im- 
practicable from  the  noise  occasioned  thereby  to  attend  with 
accuracy  to  the  debates  and  proceedings  of  the  different 
bodies  assembled  in  the  Court-house ;  that  for  these  and 
other  inconveniences  the  petitioners  are  desirous  that  a  State 
and  Court-house  be  erected  in  said  city,  sufficiently  spacious 
and  commodious  for  the  sessions  and  deliberations  of  the 
different  branches  of  government."  The  petitioners  offered 
to  appropriate  an  eligible  site  for  such  a  building,  in  the 
public  square  of  the  city,  and  to  cause  the  Court-house  and 
lot  on  which  it  stood  to  be  sold,  and  apply  proceeds  toward 
defraying  the  expenses  of  the  new  building;  and  they  prayed 
for  legislative  aid  in  order  that  such  a  building  as  they 
desired  might  be  erected,  "and  that  such  appropriation  be 
made  as  is  necessary  for  finishing  said  new  building  and  pro- 


358  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

viding  suitable  apartments  for  the  use  of  Senate  and  Assem- 
bly." 

Mr.  LUSH,  from  the  Senate  committee  to  whom  this  peti- 
tion was  referred,  reported  thereon,  March  19th,  1803.  The 
committee  was  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  expedient  for  the 
Legislature  to  grant  $10,000  in  aid  of  the  undertaking,  and, 
in  case  the  proceeds  arising  from  the  sale  of  ;he  old  Court- 
house and  lots,  together  with  the  said  §10,000,  proved  insuf- 
ficient to  complete  said  building,  to  allow  a  further  sum  of 
$6,000,  to  be  raised  by  tax  equally  divided  between  the  city 
and  county  of  Albany.  The  report  having  been  made,  the 
Senate  granted  the  petitioners  leave  to  present  a  bill.  In 
the  Assembly,  Tuesday,  February  21st,  1804,  a  similar  peti- 
tion was  presented  with  a  like  result. 

The  petitioners  lost  no  time  in  having  a  bill  drawn  up  to 
meet  the  object  set  forth  in  the  petitioii.  It  was  introduced, 
read,  and  put  on  its  final  passage  without  delay  —  the  Senate 
disposing  of  it  April  3d,  1804,  and  the  Assembly  March  31st. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  to  erect  the  new  building 
were  JOHN  TAYLOR,  DANIEL  HALE,  PHILIP  S.  VAN  KENS- 
SELAR,  SIMEON  DE  WITT,  NICHOLAS  QUACKENBUSH. 

By  the  terms  of  the  law,  Albany  was  to  proceed  imme- 
diately to  sell  its  old  Court-house,  and  pay  over  the  money 
arising  from  such  sale  to  the  Commissioners,  the  purchaser 
not  to  have  possession  until  the  completion  of  the  State 
House.  It  was  further  enacted  that  the  Supervisors  of  the 
city  and  county  should  raise,  by  tax  on  the  freeholders  and 
inhabitants  of  the  county,  exclusive  of  the  city,  £3,000.  and 
in  the  city  the  same  amount,  paying  over  the  entire  sum  to 
the  Commissioners.  A  further  enactment  of  the  law  reads 
strangely  in  the  light  of  these  better  days,  when  mild  raffles, 
at  innocent  and  charitable-minded  fairs,  are  protested  against 
by  a  large  and  influential  portion  of  the  community  as  tend- 
ing to  "debauch  the  public  conscience."  The  enactment  in 
question  provides  that  certain  managers  of  lotteries  in  the 
State  shall  cause  to  be  raised  the  sum  of  $12,000  by  lottery, 


THE  OLD  CAPITOL  AND  THE  NEW.  359 

the  same  to  be  paid  over  to  the  Commissioners.  Said  Com- 
missioners were  severally  to  give  bonds  in  the  sum  of  $30,000, 
and  required  to  account  twice  a  year  for  all  moneys  received 
by  them. 

They  at  once  qualified  and  entered  upon  their  duties. 
The  old  Court-house,  on  Court  street,  was  soon  sold  by 
the  Corporation,  and  the  money  paid  over  as  provided  by 
law.  It  brought  $17,200.  On  the  23d  of  April,  186G,  the 
corner-stone  of  the  new  State  House  was  laid. 

The  Albany  Daily  Advertiser  chronicles  the  important 
event  thus  concisely : 

"On  Wednesday,  the  23d  of  April,  the  corner-stone  of  the 
State  House  was  laid  by  Hon.  PHILIP  S.  VAN  RENSSELAER, 
in  presence  of  the  Chancellor,  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
members  of  the  Corporation,  State  House  Commissioners 
and  other  citizens.  The  site  on  which  this  edifice  is  to  be 
erected  is  at  the  head  of  State  street,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
public  square.  It  is  to  be  built  of  stone,  one  hundred  feet 
by  eighty,  on  an  improved  plan  embracing  much  elegance, 
with  great  convenience  and  durability." 

In  Assembly  Journal  of  1807.  appears  the  first  report  of 
the  Commissioners.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the 
minutes : 

"  To  the  Honorable  the  Legislature :  The  Commissioners 
for  erecting  a  building  for  public  purposes,  in  the  city  of 
Albany,  report :  That,  in  prosecuting  the  duties  of  their 
appointment,  they  have  expended  833,200,  and  have  on 
hand,  of  the  materials  purchased  with  moneys  out  of  that 
sum,  to  the  amount  of  $8,750.  The  architect  estimates  that 
to  enclose  the  building  will  still  require  about  610.000.  To 
complete  the  interior  820,000.  The  portico,  with  steps  of 
freestone,  columns  of  marble  and  pediment  of  wood,  80,800. 
Total,  §42,800.  This  estimate  contemplates  a  wooden  cor- 
nice around  the  building,  and  a  shingle  roof;  if  the  cornice 
be  made  of  stone  and  the  roof  of  slate,  §10,000  more  will  be 
required. 


360  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

"  In  determining  on  the  dimensions  of  the  building,  the 
Commissioners  have  been  governed  by  the  purposes  for 
which  it  is  intended,  as  particularly  specified  in  the  law  ; 
and  it  will  be  found  that  a  more  contracted  plan  could  not 
well  have  been  adapted.  The  expenses  would  have  been 
somewhat  less  if  the  walls  had  been  constructed  of  brick ; 
but  the  Commissioners  would  have  considered  themselves 
erring  in  their  duty  had  they  not  conformed  to  the  opinions 
and  practices  of  the  best  architects  in  every  age,  in  prefer- 
ring more  substantial  materials  for  such  an  edifice.  Every 
attention  has  been  paid  to  have  the  work  conducted  with 
the  strictest  economy,  and  the  Commissioners  trust  that  the 
plan  they  have  adopted,  and  their  proceedings  thus  far,  will 
meet  with  the  approbation  of  the  Legislature.  Kespectfully 
submitted,  JOHN  TAYLOR,  P.  S.  VAN  KENSSELAER,  SIMEON 
DE  WITT,  DANIEL  HALE,  Commissioners.  Dated  5th 
March,  1807." 

The  Legislature  of  1807  appropriated  $20,000  in  aid  of  the 
erection,  with  the  understanding  that  the  amount  should  be 
made  good  to  them  by  the  lotteries.  On  the  10th  of  March, 

1808,  the  Commissioners  made  another  report,  showing  that 
the  total  amount  received  from  all  sources  for  the  woi'k  they 
had  in  hand  was  $69,600,  of  which  amount  $67,688  had  been 
expended.      They  further  reported,  that  $25,000  more  Avas 
needed,  in  their  opinion,  to  finish  the  building.     On  the  8th 
of  April,  in  the  same  year,  a  law  was  passed  appropriating 
the  additional  825,000  asked  for. 

In  1809,  the  supply  bill  contained  an  appropriation  of 
$5,000  for  the  new  State  House,  the  same  to  be  devoted  to 
defraying  the  expenses  incurred  in  procuring  necessary  fur- 
niture for  the  rooms  occupied  by  the  Legislature,  and  for 
furnishing  said  building.  Up  to  this  time  the  new  building 
had  been  known  as  the  '•  State  House ; "  but  in  this  year, 

1809,  in  making  an   additional  appropriation  of  $500,  the 
law  reads  :  "  for  the  completion  of  the  public  building  in  the 


THE  OLD  CAPITOL  AND  THE  NEW.  361 

city  of  Albany,  which  building  shall  hereafter  be  kuowii  as 
the  CAPITOL." 

In  1810,  $4,000  was  appropriated  toward  finishing  the 
building.  In  1811  the  same  amount  was  appropriated,  and 
in  1814  the  Commissioners  were  ready  to  make  their  final 
accounting.  It  is  provided,  in  section  48  of  the  supply  bill, 
for  1814,  that  on  the  final  settlement  of  the  accounts  of 
the  Commissioners,  the  Comptroller  shall  allow  them  one 
per  cent  out  of  the  moneys  expended,  as  a  compensation  for 
their  services. 

In  May,  1829,  Albany  sold  out  her  interest  in  the  Capitol. 
By  act  of  May  5th,  1829,  $17,500  was  authorized  to  be  paid 
to  the  city,  on  condition  that  all  her  right  and  interest  in  the 
Capitol  and  the  park  in  front  should  be  released  to  the  State 
by  the  Corporation  of  Albany  and  the  Supervisors  of  the 
city  and  county,  before  June  1st,  1829.  The  city  accepted 
the  terms  of  this  offer,  and  so  the  Capitol  passed  from  under 
its  rule. 

The  expenses  of  erecting  the  Capitol  are  given  in  some 
papers  accompanying  a  message  of  the  Governor  to  the  Leg- 
islature in  1819.  The  cost  of  the  building  is  thus  set  forth: 

Paid  by  the  State 873,485  42 

Paid  by  the  City 34,200  00 

Paid  by  the  County 3,000  00 

Total 8110,085  42 


362  LIFE  SKETCHES. 


THE  NEW  CAPITOL. 


In  the  latter  part  of  January,  1865,  the  Senate  passed  a 
resolution  appointing  a  committee  of  three  to  ascertain  from 
the  different  municipalities  of  the  State,  "on  what  terms 
the  grounds  and  buildings  necessary  for  a  new  Capitol  and 
public  offices  can  be  obtained."  The  committee  appointed, 
in  accordance  with  this  resolution,  at  once  proceeded  to  in- 
quire by  circular,  of  all  the  leading  cities  and  towns  of  the 
State,  what  they  were  willing  to  do  in  the  way  of  "  eligible 
offers."  The  responses  were  numerous  from  all  parts  of  the 
State.  Albany  was  among  the  cities  that  made  overtures. 
She  offered  what  was  known  as  the  Congress  Hall  property 
for  the  site  of  the  proposed  buildings.  The  committee 
reported  to  the  Senate  that,  in  the  event  of  the  Capitol's 
removal,  they  thought  it  ought  to  be  located  in  New  York 
city;  but,  doubting  the  wisdom  of  making  a  change,  they 
recommended  a  bill  providing  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
Capitol  at  Albany. 

On  May  1st,  1865,  a  law  was  passed  providing  that,  when- 
ever, within  three  years  from  the  passage  of  the  bill,  the  city 
of  Albany  should  convey  to  the  State  the  Congress  Hall 
block,  the  Governor  should  appoint  a  board  of  three  Com- 
missioners, to  be  known  as  "  The  New  Capitol  Commission- 
ers," for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  new  Capitol.  Ten 
thousand  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  commencement  of 
the  work.  In  the  year  following,  the  city  of  Albany,  having 
complied  with  the  requirements  of  the  bill,  the  Governor 
appointed  HAMILTON  HARRIS,  Jxo.  V.  L.  PRUYN,  and  0. 
B.  LATHAM,  Commissioners,  and  on  the  14th  of  April,  an 
act  confirming  the  location  of  the  Capitol  at  Albany,  was 
passed  in  these  words: 

"The  city  of  Albany  having  fully  complied  with  the  pro- 
visions of  chapter  six  hundred  and  forty-eight  of  the  laws 


THE  OLD  CAPITOL  AND  THE  NEW.  363 

of  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five,  the  location  of  the  Capi- 
tol and  the  site  of  the  Capitol  building  at  Albany,  are  hereby 
ratified  and  confirmed." 

In  18G7,  $250,000  was  appropriated  toward  the  erection 
of  the  new  Capitol  by  the  Legislature.  In  1868,  the  number 
of  Commissioners  was  increased,  HAMILTON  HARRIS,  JOHN 
V.  L.  PRUYN,  OBADIAH  B.  LATHAM,  JAMES  S.  THAYEK, 
ALONZO  B.  CORNELL,  WILLIAM  A.  RICE,  JAMES  TERWILLI- 
GER,  JOHN  T.  HUDSON,  constituting  the  then  board.  In 
1869,  $125,000  was  appropriated;  in  1870,  $1,300,000.  In 
1871  the  Commission  was  changed,  and  HAMILTON  HARRIS, 
WILLIAM  C.  KINGSLEY,  WILLIAM  A.  RICE,  CHAUNCEY  M. 
DEPEW,  DELOS  DEWOLF  and  EDWIN  A.  MERRITT  appointed 
as  the  new  board.  The  appropriation  for  1871  was  $050,000, 
and  for  1872,  $1,000,000. 

On  the  ninth  day  of  December,  1867,  the  work  of  excava- 
tion was  commenced,  and  on  the  seventh  day  of  July,  1869, 
the  first  stone  in  the  foundation  was  laid.  The  work  has 
steadily  gone  on  ever  since.  The  cost  of  the  building  is 
restricted  by  the  statute  of  1867,  and  also  that  of  1868,  to 
"  four  million  of  dollars."  It  will  probably  not  be  built  with- 
out considerable  addition  to  those  figures,  but,  as  the  Commis- 
sioners remark  in  their  Annual  Report  for  1870,  the  matter 
is  under  the  control  of  the  Legislature,  and  any  amount 
appropriated  will  be  disbursed  in  any  way  the  Legislature 
may  direct. 

The  new  Capitol  will  be  a  fair  memorial  of  the  advance- 
ment of  our  Commonwealth  in  architectural  knowledge  and 
taste.  It  is  designed  in  the  Renaissance,  or  modern  French 
style  of  architecture,  a  style  which  will  at  once  be  recognized 
by  those  conversant  with  the  subject,  as  the  prevailing  mode 
of  modern  Europe.  Derived  originally  from  Italian  sources, 
and  partially  from  the  later  edifices  of  the  Venitian  repub- 
lic, this  beautiful  style  has  now  been  so  successfully  natural- 
ized in  other  countries  as  to  have  become,  in  fact,  the  pre- 
vailing manner  for  most  of  those  secular  edifices  of  a  digni- 


364  LIFE  SKETCHES, 

fied  and  permanent  character  which  the  wants  of  our  times 
have  called  forth.  It  holds  this  prominent  place  in  the  pub- 
lic regard,  too,  as  a  style  which  supplies  the  greatest  amount 
of  convenience  attainable  in  our  modern  buildings,  com- 
bined with  the  most  dignified  and  appropriate  elegance  in 
their  adornment.  In  the  present  instance,  from  the  great 
variety  of  outline  of  which  it  admits,  and  from  the  multi- 
plicity of  parts  required,  it  will  be  found  to  be  a  style  admira- 
bly suited  to  the  wants  and  uses  of  a  great  public  building. 

In  the  exterior  composition  of  the  design,  there  is  a  gen- 
eral adherence  to  the  style  of  the  pavilions  of  the  New 
Louvre,  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville  of  Paris,  and  the  elegant  hall  or 
Maison  de  Commerce  recently  erected  in  the  city  of  Lyons. 
Without  servile  imitation  of  any  particular  example,  the 
architects  have  produced  a  composition  in  the  bold  and 
effective  spirft  which  marks  the  most  admired  specimens  of 
modern  civil  architecture.  The  terrace,  which  forms  the 
grand  approach  to  the  east  or  principal  front,  will  form  an 
item  of  striking  architectural  detail,  nowhere  else  attempted 
on  such  an  extensive  scale,  at  least  in  America.  The  exte- 
rior is  two  hundred  and  ninety  feet  north  and  south,  and 
three  hundred  east  and  west. 

One  of  the  peculiar  features  will  be  the  open  court  in  the 
center.  This  is  one  hundred  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
in  extent,  and  hence  will  contain  more  than  one-third  of  an 
acre.  It  will  be  open  to  the  sky,  and  the  rain  which  may 
fall  will  be  carried  off  by  drains.  The  object  of  this  large 
vacancy  is  to  afford  light  to  the  interior  of  the  building. 

The  floor  immediately  above  the  level  of  the  plateau  of 
the  terrace  will  be  entered  through  the  porticoes  on  Washing- 
ton avenue  and  State  street,  and  through  a  carriage  entrance 
under  the  portico  of  the  east  front.  The  first,  or  main 
entrance  floor,  will  be  reached  by  a  bold  flight  of  steps  on 
the  east  front  and  also  on  the  west,  leading  through  the  por- 
ticoes to  the  halls  of  entrance,  each  having  an  area  of  sixty 
by  seventy-four  feet,  and  twenty-five  feet  in  height.  Com- 


THE  OLD  CAPITOL  AND  THE  NEW.  365 

municating  directly  with  these  halls  will  be  two  grand  stair- 
cases, forming  the  principal  means  of  communication  with 
the  second  floor.  On  the  left  of  the  east  entrance  hall 
are  a  suite  of  rooms  for  the  use  of  the  Governor  and  his 
secretaries  and  military  staff.  On  the  right  are  rooms  for 
the  Secretary  of  State  and  Attorney-General,  with  a  corridor 
leading  to  the  rooms  apportioned  for  the  Court  of  Appeals, 
which  is  seventy  by  seventy-seven  feet. 

On  the  second  or  principal  floor  are  the  chambers  for  the 
Senate  and  Assembly,  and  for  the  State  Library,  all  of  which 
(in  elevation)  will  occupy  two  stories,  making  forty-eight 
feet  of  height.  Rooms  for  the  committees  and  other  pur- 
poses will  occupy  the  remainder  of  these  floors.  The  Senate 
Chamber  will  be  seventy-five  by  fifty-five  feet  on  the  floor, 
with  a  gallery  on  three  sides  of  eighteen  feet  width. 
The  Assembly  Chamber  will  be  ninety-two  by  seventy-five 
feet  on  the  floor,  and  surrounded  by  a  gallery  similar  to  that 
of  the  Senate  Chamber. 

The  Library  will  occupy  the  whole  of  the  east  front  of 
these  stories,  and  will  be  two  hundred  and  eighty-three  feet 
long  and  fifty-four  feet  wide.  These  chambers  will  all  be 
lighted  from  the  roof  as  well  as  from  side  windows.  Ample 
provision  is  made  for  the  Board  of  Regents,  for  packing  and 
store-rooms  required  by  the  two  Houses,  and  for  a  spacious 
and  comfortable  refreshment-room  for  the  use  of  the  mem- 
bers. In  order  to  sustain  the  immense  weight  imposed  upon  it, 
the  outer  wall  is  twenty-five  feet  thick,  and  the  division  wall  is 
only  four  feet  less.  The  crypt  exhibits  immense  arches  based 
on  the  concrete  floor,  and  also  the  heavy  foundation  walls 
made  of  Essex  limestone,  which  is  the  strongest  material 
found  in  this  country.  The  arches  referred  to  are  seventeen 
feet  high,  and  support  the  entire  main  floor.  They  are  of 
brick,  and  are  finished  in  a  style  of  groat  beauty  as  well  as 
strength.  Hence  it  is  interesting  to  descend  to  the  crypt  in 
order  to  get  an  idea  of  the  importance  of  a  foundation.  It 
will  be  used  for  the  ventilating  machines,  and  also  will  afford 


366  LIFE  SKETCHES. 

storage -room  for  the  archives  of  the  State  sufficient  for 
many  centuries  to  come. 

When  the  building  is  completed  the  old  Capitol,  Library 
and  Congress  Hall  will  be  removed,  leaving  a  park  on  the 
east  four  hundred  and  seventy-two  feet  long,  and  three 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  wide,  or  a  little  more  than  two  and 
one-half  acres.  It  is  worthy  of  notice,  that  so  skillfully  has 
the  design  and  adaptation  of  each  of  the  requisitions  been 
studied  by  the  architects,  that  in  nearly  every  important 
part  of  the  building  the  area  of  accommodation  provided 
will  be  found  slightly  to  exceed  rather  than  fall  short  of 
the  amount  called  for  in  the  circular  of  the  Commissioners. 

Unless  something  unforeseen  happens,  it  is  expected  that 
the  new  Capitol  will  be  in  readiness  for  the  roof  by  the  close 
of  the  season  of  1875. 


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